SITA and NEC partner to accelerate global digital identity adoption in travel

The partnership emerges at a critical time as 28% of airlines and 43% of airports plan to adopt biometric identity systems within a year, despite fragmented standards slowing progress, according to SITA’s 2024 insights

In a bold push to upgrade travel systems, SITA, a leading player in air transport technology and border management, has partnered with NEC Corporation, renowned for its advanced biometric authentication systems, to drive the widespread adoption of digital identity solutions in the global travel industry.

The agreement sees NEC integrate into SITA’s Digital Travel Ecosystem—a robust, open framework designed to enable real-time digital identity verification across multiple platforms. Developed in collaboration with Indicio, the ecosystem removes the need for direct system-to-system integrations between credential issuers and verifiers, making it easier for airports, airlines, and government agencies to deploy digital identity solutions efficiently.

At the heart of the ecosystem lies the Trust Network, a governance model that ensures the secure and standardized exchange of digital credentials worldwide. Built with a privacy-first philosophy, the Trust Network empowers travellers to retain full control over their personal information, choosing when, how, and with whom to share their credentials. This approach ensures that sensitive data remains private and securely stored.

The partnership comes at a pivotal moment, as the aviation sector moves toward biometrics to improve efficiency and passenger experience. According to the SITA Air Transport IT Insights 2024, 28% of airlines and 43% of airports are planning to implement biometric identity systems within the next year. However, fragmented standards have slowed the pace of adoption.

Setting standards for digital travel

The joint initiative by SITA and NEC aims to solve this challenge by offering a scalable, interoperable solution that bridges current gaps in digital identity infrastructure. By establishing a common framework for identity verification, the collaboration is set to accelerate the digital transformation of passenger journeys, streamline airport processes, and enhance border security.

The move also supports the growing global demand for contactless, seamless travel experiences in the post-pandemic era—while maintaining high standards of data security and user autonomy.

This alliance reinforces both companies’ commitment to innovation in travel technology, marking a significant step forward in building a connected, privacy-conscious future for international travel.

“After years of investment, aviation and other travel stakeholders are now seeing the full potential of digital identities, and the industry is gearing up to scale,” said Jeremy Springall, Senior Vice President of Borders at SITA. “With NEC’s biometric expertise and SITA’s industry-leading footprint of biometric touchpoints around the world, we’re well-positioned to accelerate the transformation of Digital Travel worldwide.”

“NEC brings more than 125 years of innovation and a global track record in trusted identity technologies,” said Nanaumi Nagamine, Senior Director of the DID Department at NEC. “With SITA, we’ve delivered proven biometric solutions at airports around the world, creating secure and seamless travel experiences for thousands of passengers every day. This expanded collaboration will accelerate global adoption and set a new standard for trusted digital identity in travel.”

By addressing longstanding interoperability challenges, the SITA and NEC collaboration will increase the adoption of digital identities by passengers, helping the industry reduce bottlenecks, improve security, and enhance the passenger experience at every touchpoint.