Ho Chi Minh City pilots biometric check-in, no documents required at T3 terminal

On the morning of July 26, amid the busy flow of people checking in for the first flights of the day at Terminal T3, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, a new technological process was quietly deployed.

Ho Chi Minh City Police Department coordinated with the National Population Data Center, Department C06 ( Ministry of Public Security ), Vietnam Airports Corporation, Department A08 and related units to officially deploy the solution of applying identification, electronic authentication and biometric recognition on the VNeID application to serve check-in procedures.

The D1-D5 lobby area is always crowded during rush hour, and today is no exception. However, in the D4 lobby area, a special information desk with a system of signs and the presence of dozens of Ho Chi Minh City Police officers created a strange atmosphere. People stopped and curiously observed the "paperless check-in" operations, when with just the VNeID application integrated with face or fingerprint, passengers can complete the procedure in less than 5 seconds.

Nguyen Vu Khuong Duy (born in 1997, living in Ho Chi Minh City) lined up with his friends to do the regular check-in procedure, and was surprised when he was introduced to this process. “Previously, it took at least 5 to 10 minutes to check in for a flight, sometimes you had to wait in line for quite a while, not to mention that sometimes you forgot your documents or had to wait for a long time to check them. Now, you just need to check in online in advance, go to the airport to drop off your luggage, and then go straight to the security gate. If it is widely deployed, it will be very convenient for people like us,” Duy said with an eager look.

Without any cumbersome paperwork, through the VNeID application, passengers can check-in online, verify their identity, and go through security.

Amidst the constant flow of people, police officers patiently guided people in detail. Lieutenant Colonel Ho Duc Thien, Deputy Head of the Department of Administrative Police for Social Order (PC06), Ho Chi Minh City Police, said that the implementation of the identification, electronic authentication and biometric identification solution on VNeID not only brings direct benefits to passengers but also contributes to improving management efficiency, enhancing aviation security and promoting national digital transformation.

Police officers and airport staff provide detailed instructions on the process for passengers to experience.

Passengers only need a mobile device with the VNeID application installed to check-in online, verify their identity, go through security and board the plane without having to carry many types of documents as before. This is especially useful in the context of increasing travel demand and increasingly strict security control requirements at airports.

This is the second phase of the plan to apply digital technology throughout the civil aviation industry. This solution helps passengers carry out security procedures, check-in, board the plane... through VNeID integrating biometric data (fingerprints, faces), gradually replacing the traditional method of presenting documents.

Passengers experience new technology processes when arriving at Terminal T3

Biometric technology not only helps shorten the time but also increases the accuracy in identity authentication, which is difficult to achieve with traditional document checks. This application, according to airport security experts, will be especially effective in preventing and detecting fraudulent behavior and the use of fake documents.

According to the plan, the testing phase at Terminal T3 will last until August 15. During this time, Ho Chi Minh City Police Department directed PC06, PA08, Tan Son Nhat International Airport Police Station to coordinate with airport security forces and airlines to ensure the system operates smoothly.

Every day, at least two City Police officers are on duty at the station to guide people on how to use VNeID at security checkpoints and boarding gates. It is expected that after the trial period, this model will be widely deployed at many airports across the country from next September.

Mr. Nguyen Vu Khuong Duy performs the online check-in process, biometric verification to complete the procedure.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Linh, an employee of the Information Technology Team, Terminal Operation Center, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, said that to facilitate passengers in checking in using VNeID, the airport has coordinated with the contractor to install technical systems, ensuring a stable transmission line so as not to interrupt the check-in process. During the pilot operation this morning, no errors occurred.

A light-hearted pilot morning but the beginning of a longer journey for the aviation industry in the digitalization process.