Phú Bài International Airport will allow biometric identification (facial recognition), authentication and use of electronic chip-embedded citizen identity cards and passports and level 2 e-identification accounts for passengers. VNA/VNS Photo

THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has agreed to proceed with the biometric identification (facial recognition), authentication and use of electronic chip-embedded citizen identity cards and passports and level 2 e-identification accounts for passengers at Phú Bài International Airport in the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế.

In its document sent to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the CAAV also agreed with the trial application of biometric technology for procedures at the airport, under a plan put forth by the ACV. The piloting period will last from now until June 13.

The ACV was also asked to continue the trial plan at Cát Bi and Nội Bài international airports in Hải Phòng and Hà Nội, respectively, with adjustments to accommodate the unique characteristics of each airport if necessary.

Previously, the use of facial recognition technology for check-in procedures was piloted at Cát Bi airport in Hải Phòng City. Passengers who go through security check will have their chip-based citizen ID scanned. The camera scans the visitor's face and compares it with the original image in the National Population Database.

According to Tô Tử Hùng, Director of Aviation Security at the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam,  this technology solution is only possible when the population database is well connected and shared by the police, and at the same time information and picture of citizens must be available in this database.

He said that in the future, cameras and scanners would replace the duties of security staff. This technology would help speed up security checks, reduce congestion and improve the prevention and detection of passengers using fake documents, and detect those who are banned from flying or exiting. — VNS