A new report from the International Air Transport Association says airports no longer need physical walls between domestic and international departures. Biometrics can do the job instead.
The study, launched on November 6 in Istanbul and produced with engineering firm AtkinsRéalis, claims the change would save major airports millions of dollars a year while cutting CO₂ emissions.
Why the split exists today
Most airports still keep domestic and international passengers in separate streams because of immigration rules, security requirements and decades-old terminal layouts.
Nick Careen, IATA’s SVP for Operations, Safety and Security, says that it is now outdated.
“Regulatory requirements and technology limitations have meant that domestic and international departure passenger flows need to be physically separated at many airports. That’s no longer the case.”
The money on the table
– Shared departure halls and joint staffing could cut operating costs by up to 11 %.
– Ground-handling companies at large hubs would save roughly $5.3 million annually.
– A mid-sized airport handling 10 million passengers a year could avoid around USD 80 million in expansion costs that would otherwise be needed for duplicate facilities.
On the environmental side, IATA calculates the industry would shed 18,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent each year – the same as removing 4,000 cars from the roads.
How it would actually work
The Domestic and International Passenger Integration Program (DIPIP) lays out three phases that stay within current regulations:
1. Baseline – shared terminal space with biometric identity checks at key points.
2. Integrated – domestic and international passengers mix freely; digital systems handle border screening in the background.
3.End-state – passengers complete all identity and border formalities remotely before they even reach the airport.
Careen stresses that co-operation is the only way it happens. “Collaboration is essential to unlocking the benefits of integrated passenger flows.”
Gareth Vest, UK & Ireland Aviation Market Director at AtkinsRéalis, said the research shows clearly how digital identity and biometrics can deliver big cost savings and a far better passenger experience.
Bottom line
The idea is straightforward: let technology enforce the rules so airports don’t have to build two of everything.
Privacy and data-security questions still need answers, and not every country will move at the same speed. But for passengers stuck shuffling between segregated terminals, the prospect of one single, faster journey is hard to argue with.
What do you think – ready to let your face replace half the queues at the airport? Drop your take in the comments.
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