Domestic passengers flying with Tata Group Airlines from Terminal 2 of Bengaluru Airport can now initiate the self-bag drop process by simply scanning their faces. Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), which operates Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), has introduced the country’s first biometric-enabled self-bag drop facility.

Previously, passengers had to print a boarding pass at self-check-in kiosks and scan it to start the bag drop process. Now, with DigiYatra’s face-scan biometric technology, passengers can navigate the airport without a boarding pass or ID.

How It Works:

  1. Face Scan: Passengers select the option to ‘scan your face biometric for baggage drop’ at the self-bag drop machine.
  2. DigiYatra Icon: They then select the ‘DigiYatra’ icon to proceed, look straight into the camera for biometric capture.
  3. Flight Details & Declaration: The machine generates flight details and prompts passengers to declare any dangerous goods.
  4. Baggage Handling: Passengers place their bags on the conveyor, attach a baggage tag, and the system measures, weighs, scans, and feeds the bag into the baggage handling system, generating a baggage receipt.

In case of excess baggage, passengers are directed to a counter for payment, with plans to introduce UPI payment options soon. Those preferring not to use biometrics can continue scanning their boarding passes.

The initiative, piloted by Tata Group airlines including Air India, Air India Express, and Vistara, will eventually extend to Terminal 1 and other domestic airlines. BIAL has partnered with Materna Group to implement this facility, which aims to expedite baggage transactions and reduce check-in queues.

Despite the benefits, privacy concerns have been raised. In April 2024, concerns emerged regarding the privacy of data shared with DigiYatra, linked to a former vendor, Dataevolve, now under investigation. The Digi Yatra Foundation assures that it does not store passengers’ personally identifiable information and maintains that Indian users’ data is secure.

Bengaluru Airport continues to lead in technological advancements, enhancing passenger experience and operational efficiency through innovations like the biometric self-bag drop.