The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that Air New Zealand and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), are the first organisations to achieve its One ID certificate. The certificate recognises the fact that Air New Zealand and HKG’s use of digital identity and biometric data meets the standards outlined by the IATA’s One ID programme. The certificates were presented at the IATA World Passenger Symposium (WPS) in Macau.
Why Were the Certificates Awarded?
The IATA hopes that Air New Zealand and HKG will be the first of a wide range of organisations to meet its standards on biometric data usage and privacy.
One ID certification is designed to reassure passengers that the airlines, airports, and governments who hold the certificates observe the highest possible standards in each of its four key areas.
These are: Digitalisation of Admissibility, Contactless Travel, Biometric Handling, and Privacy, Consent, and Governance.
The IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety, and Security, Nick Careen, said that,
“Air New Zealand and HKG are among the industry’s leaders in using One ID-enabled digital identity to improve the passenger experience.”
Both Air New Zealand and HKG were certified across all four of One ID’s key areas.
What is One ID?
The One ID standards were first outlined by the IATA in 2019, as a means of standardising the use of biometric data across the aviation industry.
The IATA believes it can benefit both passengers and airlines by streamlining the process of confirming a passenger’s identity before they board a flight, removing the need for passport or boarding pass checks.
Airports such as HKG have been encouraged to invest in the scheme as a means of using airport space more efficiently.
This could potentially allow airports to manage rising passenger numbers, without having to spend money on long-term expansion projects.
HKG’s total passenger movements have increased in each of the last four years, but remained below pre-pandemic levels in 2025.
As well as improving passenger experience, IATA believes that the One ID scheme can help improve a government’s national security, by helping to prevent document fraud.
Would you share your biometric data with an airline? Would a One ID certificate encourage you to use an airline or airport? Let us know in the comments.
