International Digi Yatra trials to begin at 7 airports for Indian nationals this year for wider rollout in 2027: Government | India News
NEW DELHI: Travelling abroad from India could soon be a seamless experience just like taking domestic flights with Digi Yatra (DY). India will hold trials for international passengers at seven airports in the three months of this year, allowing eligible Indian nationals holding e-passports to use DY at designated airport touchpoints while travelling on select flights operated by Air India and IndiGo.The aviation ministry said trials are being conducted at Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar airports. “Eligible passengers will be able to use the facility at terminal entry points, security hold areas (SHA) and boarding gates, wherever the required infrastructure is available. Feedback received during the trial period will inform the planning of a wider rollout in 2027,” it said in a statement.To access this facility, eligible Indian nationals will need to create an e-passport-based “verifiable credential” (VC) through DY mobile application. “The process involves scanning the machine readable zone (MRZ) of e-passport, reading the embedded chip using the near field communication (NFC) feature of a compatible smartphone, capturing a selfie and verifying the details. The credential is stored in the passenger’s Digi Yatra wallet on the device and can be used at airport touchpoints enabled for the trials,” the statement said.The facility will complement, and not replace, existing travel processes. “Passengers must continue to carry their travel documents and complete all mandatory airline document checks, immigration procedures and other applicable travel formalities,” it added.IndiGo said eligible passengers can upload their boarding pass to the Digi Yatra app. After completing mandatory document verification at airline check-in counter, they can proceed through the security hold area and boarding gates using DY biometric face authentication.IndiGo chief digital and information officer Neetan Chopra said: “At IndiGo, we are committed to redefining air travel by making it more seamless, efficient, and customer centric, and we believe that technology can be a key catalyst in this evolution. Having been a key part of the technical proof of concept earlier this year, we are pleased to partner with Digi Yatra for the launch of these international passenger trials. Expanding secure digital identity and biometric technologies to international departures is a significant step forward for Indian aviation. We are committed to delivering a seamless travel experience for our customers at every touchpoint. The successful deployment of this technology marks an important step in reimagining the airport experience, combining enhanced security, convenience and operational efficiency. As the aviation industry continues to evolve, such innovations will play a key role in shaping the future of passenger travel.”Digi Yatra Foundation CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi said: “Digi Yatra has demonstrated how digital identity can simplify domestic air travel. With the start of international passenger trials, we are taking an important step towards extending this experience to eligible Indian nationals travelling internationally.
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Interoperability with global frameworks such as IATA’s One ID and ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD) will be an important part of this journey, helping explore how e-passport-based digital credentials can enable more seamless and secure passenger journeys across borders, while keeping passenger consent, privacy and security central to the experience.”Digi Yatra platform has over 2.6 crore users at present and has enabled more than 11 crore journeys across 39 domestic airports, serving domestic airlines. A further 25 domestic airports are planned to be covered by 2027. “The aviation ministry remains committed to leveraging technology to improve airport operations and facilitate seamless air travel, in line with govt’s vision of Digital India and ease of flying.”
