Face Express is a sign of the times, with machines guiding socially distanced passengers onto the plane in place of airport staff.
In recent years, facial recognition software has moved from the realm of science fiction into our everyday lives, finding its way onto iPhones and other mundane uses. But until now, widespread use of the technology has mainly been contained to low-stakes, private uses. Now, Japan's two biggest airlines are taking the next step, with plans to use facial recognition as a key part of the new Face Express system, which will guide passengers through socially distanced boarding procedures at the Narita Airport's international terminal, the gateway for many travelers entering and exiting Japan.
No, there's no massive database with secret information and photos of you like in a dystopian movie. The system works by taking a photo of each passenger at the self-check-in kiosk when they arrive at the airport, and matching it with the photo in their passport. The passenger can then use their face for identification throughout the boarding process, as a so-called "face passport," checking bags, going through security, and getting onto the plane without needing to show their passport and boarding pass each time. After the passenger is safely in the air, Face Express says the system deletes the photo.
Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have been using the facial recognition system at Narita Airport since July 19th, and Face Express is looking to expand. In the future, they're hoping more airlines will move to adopt the system.
Face Express and similar "face passport" facial recognition systems are clearly seeing success due in part to COVID-19, as travelers have slowly begun to return to airports, but are still reticent to come into close contact with others. The automated machines allow passengers to stay socially distanced and avoid unnecessary contact with airport staff, making the process more comfortable for all in the midst of a pandemic. Since winter of 2020, Lufthansa and Swiss Airlines customers passing through Frankfurt or Munich Airport have also been able to use a similar system which even allows passengers to register photos in advance, and accurately identifies faces even for those wearing a mask. Everything from vending machines to conveyor belt sushi proves the love that Japan has for automated systems, so it should be interesting to see how facial recognition transforms Japan's airports in the coming years.
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Details
NAME:Japan Airlines
PROFILE
The latest news from Japan - learn what's new in the land of the rising sun, from an international group right on the scene.
COMMENT
FEATURED MEDIA
VIEW MORENarita Airport Tax-Free Shopping List 나리타공항 면세점 쇼핑 리스트 #pr #calbee #jagapokkuru #japanesesnacks #japanesefood #japanesesouvenir #japantravel #japantrip #naritaairport #hokkaido #나리타국제공항 #나리타공항면세점 #나리타공항면세점과자 #일본공항면세점 #일본기념품쇼핑리스트추천 #공항면세점쇼핑리스트 #일본과자추천 #면세점일본과자 #일본기념품추천 #일본과자 #자가폿쿠루 #일본간식 #일본과자쇼핑 #일본면세점필수템 #일본기념품쇼핑
Asakusa's Sanja Matsuri, one of the biggest festivals in all of Tokyo, is almost here! Make sure you check out the festival route so you don't miss all the festivities this May. #asakusa #sanjafestival #sanjamatsuri #asakusashrine #sensoji #sensojitemple #japanesefestival #shintoshrine #japaneseculture #tokyo #tokyotrip #tokyotravel #asakusasightseeing #matsuri #japantrip #japantravel #springinjapan #tokyotravel #japankuru #산자마츠리 #아사쿠사 #일본마츠리 #일본여행 #일본5월
Odaiba's DiverCity Tokyo Plaza is home to the famous real-size 20m-tall Unicorn Gundam, and the popular shopping center has even more Gundam on the inside! Check out the Gundam Base Tokyo on the 7th floor for shelves upon shelves of Gunpla, and the Gundam Base Tokyo Annex on the 2nd floor for cool anime merchandise. Both shops have tons of limited-edition items! #pr #odaiba #tokyo #tokyotrip #japantrip #japantravel #PR #divercity #divercitytokyoplaza #tokyoshopping #gundam #unicorngundam #gundambasetokyo #anime #otaku #gunpla #japankuru #오다이바 #다이바시티도쿄 #오다이바건담 #건담 #일본건담 #건프라 #건담베이스도쿄
Evangelion, in miniature!? Tokyo's SMALL WORLDS Miniature Museum is actually a must-see for anime lovers, thanks to the tiny Evangelion Hangar and Tokyo-III... plus a whole universe of other scenes both real and fictional. #smallworlds #smallworldstokyo #tokyotrip #tokyotravel #evangelion #eva #anime #miniature #miniatures #animefigure #japantrip #japantravel #에반게리온 #스몰월드 #에반겔리온 #スモールワールズ #오다이바 #아리아케
Have you sat down for a snack at Sumida Aquarium yet? This aquarium next to Tokyo Skytree is known for its penguins and garden eels, but we can't get enough of their cute snacks! There are lots of good seats around the aquarium, too, so it almost feels like one big cafe. 🐧 • Find out more at Japankuru.com! (Link in bio.) • #japankuru #sumidaaquarium #skytree #tokyoskytree #solamachi #sumida #tokyo #tokyotrip #tokyotravel #aquarium #japanesesweets #themecafe #すみだ水族館 #Japan #日本 #일본 #Japon #ญี่ปุ่น #Japão #япония #japantravel #日本旅行 #日本旅遊 #japan_of_insta #japantrip #traveljapan #japan🇯🇵 #igerstokyo #explorejapan
For anime fans, the Evangelion areas at Small Worlds Miniature Museum are a must see! The tiny miniature people in the Evangelion Hangar look like ants beneath the moving Unit-01, Unit-00, and Unit-02! And over in Tokyo-III, characters like Shinji, Rei, and Katsuragi live life on a miniature scale. #odaiba #tokyo #tokyotrip #japantrip #japantravel #ariake #smallworlds #miniaturemuseum #smallworldstokyo #tokyotravel #evangelion #eva #anime #miniature #miniatures #animefigure #japankuru #스몰월드 #에반게리온 #오다이바 #오다이바관광 #오다이바스몰월드 #미니어쳐