Hamad International Airport rolls out biometric travel at over 700 touchpoints Passengers departing from Hamad International Airport can now complete nearly every stage of their journey using only facial recognition after the airport introduced one of the world’s largest biometric passenger-processing systems. Developed in partnership with Qatar Airways and aviation technology provider SITA, the new Fast Pass service connects more than 700 biometric touchpoints across the airport. It allows eligible passengers to check in, drop bags, clear security and board their flight without presenting a passport or boarding pass at each step. Passengers can enrol in Fast Pass either through the Qatar Airways mobile app during check-in or at a self-service kiosk in the terminal. The enrollment process takes only a few seconds, after which facial recognition becomes their primary form of identification throughout the departure journey. One biometric identity from check-in to boarding The rollout represents a significant expansion of biometric passenger processing, with facial verification integrated into self-service bag-drop units, security checkpoints and boarding gates. The SITA system prevents repeated document checks while maintaining high standards of security and data protection by verifying passengers once before their journey and by automatically identifying them at subsequent touchpoints. Passengers who don’t wish to participate can opt for traditional processing. The airport plans to expand the service to include Qatar Airways transfer passengers and, eventually, other airlines operating from Hamad International Airport, helping streamline connections for transit travellers. Meeting growing demand for contactless travel The launch comes as airports worldwide seek to accommodate growing passenger numbers while minimising congestion at key processing points. SITA cited research from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) showing that most passengers now prefer biometric identification over physical travel documents. IATA published the results of its Global Passenger Survey last year, showing that: - 85% of