Bengaluru airport launches India's first biometric-enabled self-bag drop facility

Bengaluru airport has been a pioneer in technology implementation, introducing a fully automated 'self-bag drop' system in 2018 and piloting DigiYatra in 2019 to reduce queues.

Also, read: Bengaluru Airport deploys AI to detect unattended luggage and monitor queues at T2

How does it work?

DigiYatra passengers at the self-bag drop in the Bengaluru airport can select the option to 'scan your face biometric for baggage drop.'

Next, they will be prompted to select the 'DigiYatra' icon to proceed. The machine will then instruct the passenger to look straight into the camera while capturing their biometric image.

Later, it will generate passengers' flight details and prompt them to declare if they are carrying any dangerous goods.

Also, read: Bengaluru airport rolls out one-stop app with enhanced features for passengers

Once declared, the machine will instruct the passenger to place the bag on the conveyor. It will then prompt them to attach the baggage tag (which can also be generated by the machine or printed by passengers at a self-kiosk beforehand). Once confirmed, the bag will be measured, weighed, scanned, and automatically fed into the baggage handling system, while also generating the baggage receipt.

In case of excess baggage, passengers will be directed to the counter to complete payment. However, machines will soon offer a UPI payment option for passengers to pay for excess baggage on the spot.

Those who do not want to opt for biometrics can continue to scan their boarding pass and initiate the self-bag drop process.

Tata Group, including Air India, Air India Express, and Vistara, has piloted this initiative, and the facility will be extended to Bengaluru airport's Terminal 1 (T1) and other domestic airlines in a phased manner.

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which operates KIA, has partnered with Materna Group, headquartered in Germany, to implement the biometric-enabled self-bag drop facility.

Also, read: Bengaluru airport likely to get automated people mover for seamless transfers between terminals

Airport officials said biometric-enabled self-bag drop facility would expedite baggage transactions and reduce check-in queues. BIAL, in a statement to Moneycontrol, said: "Bengaluru airport introduced the country's first biometric-enabled self-baggage drop facility at Terminal 2. Presently this facility is available only to passengers of Vistara, Air India, and Air India Express".

"Through facial biometric authentication, DigiYatra passengers can eliminate the step of scanning their boarding passes and conveniently deposit their luggage at the self-baggage drop facility. This service not only expedites baggage handling but also empowers passengers with greater control over their travel experience", it added.

At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the US, the self-bag drop with biometric ID verification, implemented in 2022, reduces average processing time to 70 seconds per passenger, cutting bag check time by 30 percent.

There have also been privacy concerns. In April 2024, there were reports raising concerns about the privacy of data shared with DigiYatra in connection with a former vendor Dataevolve, which has come under investigation. However, Digi Yatra Foundation claimed that it does not store the personally identifiable information of passengers and that the personal data of the Indian users are safe and secure.

Also, read: Digi Yatra users' data safe; info stored only in individual's mobile device: Digi Yatra Foundation