Decentralized Digital IDs: Seamless Travel's Future

Published Date : 7/19/2025 

The travel industry is embracing decentralized digital identity solutions to enhance privacy, security, and traveler convenience. Learn how digital IDs are reshaping the travel experience. 

The travel industry is slowly shifting towards a more decentralized model of digital identity, as highlighted by EU Digital Identity Wallet Consortium (EWC) Advisor Annet Steenbergen and NetSys CEO Nick Price during a webinar on “How Digital ID Is Reshaping the Travel Industry.” n nSteenbergen shared her extensive experience in travel policy, including her work with the Aruba Happy Flow program and as Aruba’s representative to IATA. She emphasized the importance of digital identities like ICAO Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs) in enhancing regulatory compliance and addressing privacy concerns. n nPrice introduced a seamless travel project he is leading in an unnamed Middle Eastern country, focusing on use cases within the country, especially after arrival. He explained that digital identities can significantly improve traveler experiences beyond the airport. For instance, hotels often need to collect passports for regulatory purposes, leading to long check-in lines. With digital IDs, travelers can share only the necessary information, streamlining the process. n nBeyond compliance, Price highlighted the potential for a new level of service when travelers can share their preferences with organizations. “That information needs to be stored somewhere,” he explained. “The only effective place to store it is with the traveler themselves, because they’re the only ones that actually know. And now you have the tools to provide that information at every point, but only just the information that’s needed for that particular interaction.” n nDigital identity also plays a crucial role in agent-to-agent interactions for travel bookings, physical access control, and modernized loyalty programs. “There are so many opportunities here,” Price said. “We just need the tools in the hands of enough travelers, and loyalty will probably never be the same again.” n nInsights from the EU’s large-scale pilots for its Digital Identity Wallets will soon be shared by the EU Commission, as they are wrapping up. One pilot involved completing a payment, proving student status, and receiving a ticket within a single flow, illustrating simplified travel interactions. n nPhase 3 testing of the EU Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet for the travel industry has begun, with Amadeus and Lufthansa testing an integration for end-to-end seamless travel. The EUDI Wallet is integrated with Amadeus software to support the online check-in process, bag drop, pre-security check, and flight boarding. n nSteenbergen referred to this project during the webinar as an example of how identity providers and the travel industry are working together to operationalize the new way of sharing ID data. The EWC is currently inviting people to help test an online airline check-in process using the digital identity of a fictional persona named “Hanna.” n nThe future of travel may also include digital IDs for things, such as hotels, possibly based on GLEIF. When these change hands, the asset management transfer is time-consuming and laborious. For digital identity to work for travel, it needs to “scale down,” according to Price, making it accessible to small businesses without requiring complicated back-end systems and major upfront investments. n nA shift in public mindset is also necessary to replace centralized systems that indiscriminately collect personal data. However, people are already concerned about sharing their personal information with the travel industry. Jumio’s 2025 Online Identity Study shows that 44% of respondents do not trust the travel industry to protect them against AI-powered fraud like identity theft or account takeovers. n nHalf of those surveyed say they don’t feel their data is protected adequately by “sharing economy” businesses, and percentages for those businesses and the industry overall were even worse among Americans, with 60% and 55% respectively reporting a lack of trust. This concern is well-founded, as a report from Wired and 404 Media revealed that data broker Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) sold access to traveler records to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency and blocked it from sharing where the data came from. n nARC is owned by at least eight American air carriers, and representatives from major airlines sit on its board of directors. Correspondingly, the number of travelers willing to pay for more secure identity verification continues to rise, from 71% last year to 74% this year. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is a decentralized digital identity?

A: A decentralized digital identity is a system where personal data is stored and managed by the individual, rather than by centralized authorities. This enhances privacy and security while providing more control to the user.

Q: How do ICAO Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs) improve regulatory compliance?

A: ICAO Digital Travel Credentials provide a higher level of assurance compared to sharing a copy of a passport. They help in verifying the identity of travelers more securely and efficiently, thus improving regulatory compliance.

Q: What are the benefits of using digital IDs for hotel check-ins?

A: Using digital IDs for hotel check-ins can reduce wait times and enhance privacy. Hotels can verify guest identities without collecting physical passports, making the process faster and more secure.

Q: How are digital IDs being tested in the EU travel industry?

A: The EU is conducting large-scale pilots for its Digital Identity Wallets, including an integration with Amadeus software for end-to-end seamless travel. These tests aim to operationalize the new way of sharing ID data in the travel industry.

Q: Why is there a need for public trust in digital identity systems?

A: Public trust is crucial for the adoption of digital identity systems. Without trust, people may be reluctant to use these systems, hindering their effectiveness in enhancing privacy and security in the travel industry. 

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