No passport? No problem! At least that’s the hope for the future of Australia’s airports, which, as part of a massive high-tech overhaul, are hoping to automate 90 percent of air travel processing procedures using biometric technology by 2020, replacing paper passports with facial, iris and/or fingerprint recognition devices.It’s a tall order to be sure but, as The Guardian reports, the country’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection has already taken steps toward building a “contactless” system that could revolutionize — and expedite — the airport experience.The announcement comes as part of the Seamless Traveller initiative, a $100 million project that was announced back in 2015 with the goal of “transform[ing] the border experience” over a five-year period. The implementation of biometric technology — the most ambitious part of the plan — would allow travelers flying into any of Australia’s airports to be cleared for entry into the country at a high-tech kiosk that would identify them via facial, iris or fingerprint recognition technology — no paperwork, or human agents, required.The one big hurdle? The Australian government isn’t yet sure exactly how to accomplish this, so they’re still looking for ideas. Still, even without a firm solution in mind, the department seems confident it’ll be ready to begin testing the technology later this summer, planning to introduce the technology on a small scale at Canberra Airport (CBR), which services limited flights to and from Singapore and Wellington, in July. By November, the new tech could even find its way to a major airport — possibly Sydney (SYD) or Melbourne (MEL) — and by March of 2019, the rollout would be complete.Hey, if it means getting through security and to the beach faster, we’re all for it.H/T: The GuardianSign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.
