SPT General Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the SPT Program?
- What is IATA’s role in the SPT Program?
- How do I join SPT?
- How much are the fees to become a member?
- What are the privileges that come with membership?
- What will I find in the private pages of the website if I become a member?
- Can I become a member without paying any fees?
- I am not a SPT member, can I attend a SPTIG meeting?
- Where can I find out more about SPT related events?
- What is biometrics?
- How can biometrics be used in civil aviation?
- Which is the best biometric for use in civil aviation?
- What is an 'e-passport'?
- What role could the 'e-passport' play in SPT?
- Are there security benefits in using biometrics in civil aviation?
- Are the different types of biometrics interoperable i.e., If one operation uses fingerprinting & another facial recognition, would a passenger be able to use both systems?
- What are the implications of SPT and the use of biometrics on the passenger processes of curbside check-in, remote check-in, self-service check-in, and e-ticketing?
- What about the baggage process?
- What is the cost of implementing SPT?
- What is the SPT Program?
The Simplifying Passenger Travel (SPT) Program aims to improve the passenger travel experience by replacing repetitive checks of passengers and their documents with a new streamlined system that will collect the information once and then share it electronically with subsequent service providers.
To this aim, a SPT Interest Group (SPTIG) of over 70 airports, airlines, government authorities, travel agents and technology suppliers are all working together to ensure that as such systems are implemented and there is international interoperability.
- What is IATA’s role in the SPT Program?
IATA is one of 13 organizations on the SPT Board; it is the SPT Board that acts as a keeper of the SPT vision.
Organisations on the SPT Board represent airports, airlines, government authorities, as well as travel agents and technology suppliers.
In addition, IATA has accepted accountability to manage the SPT Interest Group (SPTIG).
- How do I join SPT?
The membership process involves three steps:
- MoU: Sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
- Vote: Approval from current members.
- Membership Fees: Payment of one-time membership fee.
Contact us for a copy of the MoU.
- How much are the fees to become a member?
The membership fees are determined on a yearly basis by the SPT Interest Group.
Contact us by email to find out membership fees for the current year.
- What are the privileges that come with membership?
Privileges for SPT members include the opportunity to network with industry partners and technology suppliers. Members also participate in 3 meetings every year where they have the opportunity todiscuss and develop ideas for making SPT a reality.
- What will I find in the private pages of the website if I become a member?
As a member you will have access to the member pages where you can get information on past meetings, working papers and confidential documents that are the result of the member’s discussions.
- Can I become a member without paying any fees?
Government involvement is considered essential to the advancement ofthe SPT vision, therefore a special Advisory Member category isavailable for government authorities which requires neither payment ofmembership fee nor signature of the MoU.
- I am not a SPT member, can I attend a SPTIG meeting?
The SPTIG meetings are for members only. The group is completely self-funded and the benefits gained from the meetings are exclusive privileges for which members pay.
- Where can I find out more about SPT related events?
- You can visit the “News and Events” pages to find out more about SPT related events and news.
- What is biometrics?
A biometric is a technology that automatically confirms the identity of people by comparing patterns of physical or behavioral characteristics in real-time against enrolled computer records of those patterns.(Source: IBIA)
Examples include facial recognition, fingerprints, hand geometry, iris recognition, retina scanning, written signature, and voice patterns.
- How can biometrics be used in civil aviation?
There are three areas where biometrics can be applied
- passenger processing
- employee access
- national security surveillance
The SPT Program is focused primarily on passenger travel.
- Which is the best biometric for use in civil aviation?
Each type of biometric identifier has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Some are more accurate, some are less intrusive, and some less expensive.
The requirements of each application will identify the most appropriate technology. No single approach will meet every need.Biometrics can function in a layered approach using one to processemployees, a second for passengers, and a third for hidden surveillance.
- What is an 'e-passport'?
The electronic passport, commonly known as the 'e-passport', is a conventional passport equipped with a special radio frequency microchip. The microchip contains textual and biometric data of the passport holder (e.g. mandatory photograph; fingerprint and/or irisimage are optional). This data is stored in a globally interoperable format as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization. By 2005, more than 30 nations had announced plans to introduce e-passports for their citizens.
- What role could the 'e-passport' play in SPT?
The ‘e-passport’ will play an important role within futureSPTinitiatives, as the document can be used within the existing travel continuum and within select SPT programs utilizing biometric self-service check-in kiosks and/or automated border inspection stations. Biometric (identifier) data can be efficiently and accurately obtained from these passports, thus enabling live comparison of thedocument to the bearer and/or a database.
- Are there security benefits in using biometrics in civil aviation?
In the context of passenger processing, there are multiple security benefits in positive identification of passengers within the airportarea as well as on airplanes.
By providing a better service to passengers who are known to government authorities or airlines, you thereby remove them from the pool of those who need to be more thoroughly inspected.
- Are the different types of biometrics interoperable i.e., If one operation uses fingerprinting & another facial recognition, would a passenger be able to use both systems?
The passenger would have to enroll with each biometric type in use. For a seamless system on an international scale operation, there is a need to consider systems used in other places, and methods by which they can be integrated.
If there are three main types of biometrics in use, you may decide to “read/write” one biometric of choice, but also to be able to “read” the other two for users that frequently visit.
- What are the implications of SPT and the use of biometrics on the passenger processes of curbside check-in, remote check-in, self-service check-in, and e-ticketing?
The SPT Program looks at the whole journey, so it encompasses the use of biometrics for all of these services. There are different IATA groups working on standards for incorporating new biometric developments for these processes. The use of biometrics is included in the emerging industry specifications. The SPT Program considers the individual processes as part of the whole journey and it is only by looking at these wider implications that we will have efficient facilitation and security optimization.
The implementation of these services will eventually have implications on the configuration of the airport. For instance, if more check-in is done remotely, there will be less need for space at the check-in hall at airports.
- What about the baggage process?
There are various scenarios possible for baggage handling. These include:
- use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tagsto better trackbaggage that is transported on the same aircraft as itsowners;
- an overnight courier service which collects your baggage from your home and delivers it within 24 hours to your hotel.
The implementation of these services has implications on the configurationof the airport, e.g. if baggage is handled by a parallel courier service, there will be less need for space at check-in and baggage delivery.
- What is the cost of implementing SPT?
The cost of implementing the SPT vision depends on the objectives, scale, and scope of the program. Once the entire system is in place there will be savings realised due to enhanced operational efficiencies. However, an initial capital investment will be required.
For example, if biometric information were to be embedded in the national passport the cost would depend on the technology used as well as the number of passengers for whom a new replacement passport would be required.
