South China Airlines swaps boarding cards for facial recognition
Biometrics is quickly becoming the security tool of choice for a vast number of governments and organisations, and increasingly I'm seeing them being used to create new "contactless" borders and "frictionless" customer experiences
Key takeaways
- Hou Kan, a member of International Air Transport Association, said E-Tickets, E-Invoices and facial recognition would simplify check-in.
- The airline will apply the system later at Beijing's new airport and other airports, said Han Wensheng, deputy general manager of China Southern Airlines.
- With a fleet of over 700 aircraft, China Southern operates more than 2,000 flights linking 224 destinations in over 40 countries and regions.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'South China Airlines swaps boarding cards for facial recognition', 311 Institute, 18 September. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/south-china-airlines-swaps-boarding-cards-for-facial-recognition/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Earlier this year I reported that Australia had decided to do away with the humble passport and roll out their "Seamless Traveller Initiative" that would allow 90% of everyone travelling into the country to experience a "contactless" border. In other words, your face was your passport - literally. Now, just seven months later and South China Airlines, one of China's "big three" airlines, have announced that they're getting rid of the humble boarding card and replacing it instead with new facial recognition technology, and they've started rolling it out at Jiangying Airport in Nanyang city, Henan province.
Under the scheme passengers don't have to get a boarding pass at check-in, as cameras verify their faces with their passport photos, and the system authenticates them at the boarding gates just before boarding.
Hou Kan, a member of International Air Transport Association, said E-Tickets, E-Invoices and facial recognition would simplify check-in. Chinese airlines are keen to introduce new systems for the convenience of air travellers.
Before the smart boarding system was launched, China Southern Airlines had notified passengers to download the airlines' app and upload a head shot before going to the airport to check-in.
The system verifies images on the app with passengers' ID photos and their real-time images at the airport. Its takes just one second.
The airline developed the system with Baidu and GRG Banking.
Huang Wenqiang, general manager of the airline's e-commerce division, said the smart-boarding system involved multiple encryption measures, which would prevent personal information theft.
The airline will apply the system later at Beijing's new airport and other airports, said Han Wensheng, deputy general manager of China Southern Airlines.
With a fleet of over 700 aircraft, China Southern operates more than 2,000 flights linking 224 destinations in over 40 countries and regions. Its passenger throughput reached 150 million in 2016.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Biometrics is quickly becoming the security tool of choice for a vast number of governments and organisations, and increasingly I'm seeing them being used to create new "contactless" borders and "frictionless" customer experiences
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
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Sources and further reading
- South China Airlines global.csair.com
- International Air Transport Association iata.org
- GRG Banking grgbanking.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 18 September 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). South China Airlines swaps boarding cards for facial recognition. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/south-china-airlines-swaps-boarding-cards-for-facial-recognition/
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