How technology is protecting every step of the travel journey

The future of travel is being shaped by digital transformation. Travellers expect seamless, personalised journeys – yet airports, airlines, and border agencies must also meet heightened security and privacy demands. This Q&A explores how Thales is helping the travel ecosystem achieve both goals, with innovations in biometric border control, Digital Travel Credentials, and secure mobile identity that make travel simpler, smarter and safer. 

Why is digital transformation critical to the future of travel?

Travel is rebounding fast post-pandemic, but the industry’s digital infrastructure is under strain. Travellers expect faster, more personalised experiences, yet airports, airlines, and border agencies must balance this with rising security and privacy demands. Digital transformation enables a shift from paper-based or manual processes to smart, secure systems powered by biometrics, digital identity, and mobile connectivity.

Thales is at the forefront of this shift, delivering technologies that make travel both seamless and secure – for passengers, operators, and governments alike. This includes fully digitalised means to verify identities, and biometric scanning technology that allows for smoother experiences at border crossings and security gates.

What are Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs), and how are they changing the game?

Digital Travel Credentials are a new evolution of travel documentation, enabling passengers to carry a digital version of their passport on their smartphone. Backed by ICAO standards, DTCs allow identity verification even when a network connection isn’t available, and can be used in automated border control processes.

Thales is a key partner in the EU’s ODYSSEUS project, showcasing the pilot implementation of a Digital Travel Credential (DTC) Type 2 – a global first. This innovation allows secure identity data to be pre-shared with border agencies, significantly reducing wait times and enhancing security.

What role does biometrics play in improving both security and passenger experience?

Biometrics, including facial, fingerprint, and iris recognition, are becoming the foundation of modern identity verification in travel. Multimodal biometric systems offer stronger fraud resistance and faster processing than traditional methods.

Thales provides robust biometric solutions integrated into eGates, self-service kiosks, and mobile apps. These systems not only speed up border control and boarding but also reduce reliance on physical documents, which can be lost, forged, or mishandled.

How does Thales ensure that digital identity and biometric data remain secure?

Thales builds its solutions on a foundation of privacy-by-design and end-to-end encryption, ensuring that identity data is securely stored, transmitted, and processed.

Thales also enables verification efficiency – using intelligent decision-making to reduce false rejections and ensure only trusted travellers are approved. Whether it's through secure credential issuance, biometric template protection, or advanced authentication algorithms, trust is embedded at every level.

Is the travel industry ready for this transformation?

The shift is already underway, but readiness varies. Adoption depends on cross-border collaboration, interoperability standards, and investment in infrastructure. Thales works closely with international organisations, governments, and private operators to ensure systems are scalable and future-proof.

Technologies like eSIMs and 5G security features also support this transition. Thales’ eSIM lifecycle management solutions, for instance, enable secure remote subscription provisioning for seamless global connectivity.

How does all this fit into a broader cybersecurity agenda?

Travel touches many points of digital exposure, from mobile apps and airline booking systems to border databases and IoT-enabled airport infrastructure. Thales’ approach combines strong encryption, identity assurance, and real-time threat detection to protect both physical and digital travel layers.

By securing every step of the journey, from check-in to arrival, Thales supports not only a smoother passenger experience, but also a safer global travel ecosystem.

What’s next for secure digital travel?

As the industry moves toward fully contactless travel, innovation will continue around decentralised identity, AI-driven border management, and real-time risk scoring. Thales is investing in research and international partnerships to make this future a reality, ensuring that as travel becomes more digital, it remains secure, inclusive, and trusted.

Travel today is inseparable from digital technology, shaping everything from booking and boarding to border control. But these innovations depend on secure, trusted systems that protect sensitive identity and journey data.

With its expertise in biometrics, Digital Travel Credentials, and secure mobile identity, Thales ensures that every stage of the passenger journey is both seamless and protected at the outset.

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, one message is clear: the future of travel depends on securing our world. And with Thales, trust is built in at every step.