A coalition including IATA, ACI Europe, Amadeus, IDEMIA Public Security and SITA is pressing EU lawmakers to amend the draft Digital Omnibus legislation, warning the current text could unintentionally restrict voluntary adoption of biometric systems at European airports.

The newly formed Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition brings together the airline and airport trade bodies with three of the sector's largest technology and identity providers. In a joint statement, the group calls on policymakers to ensure the legislation "actively supports the voluntary and secure use of biometrics in travel while protecting passenger choice and privacy."

The stakes for terminal capacity are concrete. Biometric verification such as facial recognition removes repeated manual document checks at border control and boarding gates. The coalition says the technology allows airports to optimise existing terminal infrastructure, absorb peak traffic periods and free operational staff to assist passengers who need additional support — a capacity argument aimed at hubs already constrained by physical expansion limits.

The Digital Omnibus is designed to simplify Europe's digital framework and strengthen industrial competitiveness while preserving strict data protection and cybersecurity standards. The coalition does not object to those goals. Its concern is narrower: the drafting as it stands risks closing off a technology the industry has spent years deploying at scale across European airports.

Passenger demand data underpins the lobbying effort. Research cited from IATA's Global Passenger Survey shows 74% of travellers are willing to share biometric data in place of traditional passports and boarding passes — a figure the coalition presents as evidence that voluntary enrolment can sustain adoption without regulatory mandation.

"EU policymakers have the opportunity to put Europe in the global lead on biometric regulation," the group says in its joint statement. "The benefits of the latest technologies are clear: they can protect passenger data privacy and open a more seamless and efficient travel process."

The coalition has published a manifesto, 'Advancing Responsible Biometrics in Europe', setting out its regulatory red lines. The document commits the signatories to technology-neutral rules, mandatory non-biometric alternatives and strict data protection. Under its principles, passenger participation must remain strictly voluntary, with users retaining full control to share or delete their biometric data at any point during a defined journey.

The timing reflects traffic projections that outstrip current infrastructure. ICAO forecasts global passenger traffic will reach 12.4 billion annually by 2050 — nearly triple 2024 levels. Automated processing is one of the few levers available to airports seeking to raise throughput without new terminal construction.

The coalition argues that established legal clarity and sustained public-private dialogue will be essential to expanding airport capacity, ensuring seamless border clearance and supporting the competitiveness of Europe's transport and tourism sectors. What remains open is whether EU legislators will adjust the Digital Omnibus text before adoption — the outcome that will determine whether voluntary biometric rollouts accelerate or stall across the bloc.