SITA agrees partnership with Zamna for secure passenger ID verification

SITA agrees partnership with Zamna for secure passenger ID verification

The tie-up "powers the next step in the journey to SITA's vision of enabling a truly connected and digital travel experience", says the aviation software specialist

SITA has agreed a partnership with Zamna Technologies to collaborate on technologies that will improve customer experience while ensuring greater security.

The tie-up between the specialist aviation sector software developer and the UK-based blockchain pioneer is expected to “fundamentally change data management” in the sector.

Zamna has developed a decentralised blockchain model to transform how passenger data, such as passport, visa, and health information, is verified and handled.

The firm says this provides security and efficiency benefits for travellers airlines, airports and governments. 

The first deployment will be focused on the more than 30 airlines that make up the Arab Air Carriers Organisation.

David Lavorel, chief executive of SITA, said: "The partnership with Zamna Technologies powers the next step in the journey to SITA's vision of enabling a truly connected and digital travel experience along with all the benefits it will deliver: efficiency, improved passenger experience, and increased security." 

Irra Ariella Khi, Zamna Technologies founder and chief executive, added: "SITA has already made great strides into making seamless travel possible with their innovative digital travel solutions. 

“We're excited to partner with them and leverage their unrivalled experience in the industry to take the next step and transform journeys. 

“Together we will leverage Zamna’s digitisation of travel documents and processes through Identity Rails, to make travel significantly more efficient, and deliver secure travel identity for all — through airports and across borders." 

Working together, Zamna and SITA say they will develop automation enhancements to identity verification so passengers do not have to present documents at every touch point.

The partners said this supports SITA’s “vision of a completely digital travel experience” that will see reduced processing times, and less infrastructure required to process passengers.

In addition, border agencies will experience fewer exceptions and passengers requiring on-site processing because border checks will be completed pre-departure. 

Zamna said: “Across the journey, the passenger will enjoy peace of mind that the data is being handled even more securely and that they have satisfied all regulatory requirements to travel.

“The solution also enhances security for SITA’s clients, whose data is managed in a safe, private, and decentralised manner.

“Airlines, airports, and governments can drive operational savings by having confidence in the accuracy and timeliness of traveller data. 

“Verified traveller data will be securely shared throughout the journey, eliminating duplicate processes, increasing trust, and improving the passenger experience.

“This approach is a paradigm shift to fundamentally change data management within the aviation industry, elegantly ensuring that the individual traveller has minimal impact and that their documents are read and verified once and put to work many times. 

“SITA’s scale and expert work with more than 1000 airports and more than 70 governments uniquely position the company to lead this industry-wide commitment to transformation.”