Hongqiao Airport pilots a full-process One ID facial recognition system. [Photo/AVINEX]
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport has become the first airport in the Chinese mainland to pilot a full-process One ID facial recognition system for international and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan flights, allowing eligible passengers to complete their journey from security screening to boarding using facial recognition alone.
The service went live on June 26. Eligible passengers traveling with the first participating airlines — China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, and Air Macau — can check in, clear security and immigration, and board their flights without repeatedly presenting their travel documents.
Passengers can complete their journey from security screening to boarding using only facial recognition. [Photo/AVINEX]
With passengers' consent, the One ID system creates a unique digital identity by securely linking facial information with travel documents during check-in. No advance registration or mobile app is required. Passengers can then use facial recognition for identity verification at pre-security screening, customs temperature checks, immigration e-channels, and boarding. At the boarding gate, the verification process takes as little as three seconds.
E-channels at Hongqiao Airport. [Photo/AVINEX]
The launch follows measures introduced by China's immigration authorities last November to promote smarter border clearance. Hongqiao Airport upgraded its immigration facilities and, in collaboration with aviation information service provider TravelSky, customs authorities, and border inspection authorities, developed a platform that enables passenger information to be collected once and securely shared across multiple checkpoints.
The airport has installed six smart pre-screening gates, 23 automated immigration lanes — including nine for departures and 14 for arrivals — and seven smart boarding gates serving international and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan flights. Staff are also available on site to assist passengers with the new system.
