Passengers who use EZPaz can get through security checkpoints with ease just by using their faces.
Facial recognition tech eases security and boarding processes at KLIA
WITH just a quick scan of their faces, first-time flyers Hureen Ereena Ismail and Amrina Izzah Ahmad Nazri escaped the long queues and anxiety one would usually experience in an airport.
They breezed through security checkpoints at the bustling KL International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1, along with fellow passenger Sharifah Nurfariha Syed Dawood who is a frequent flyer.
“This new system made the whole process fast, convenient and seamless. All we had to do was scan our faces at the EZPaz biometric facial enrolment kiosk first before proceeding for check in, baggage tag printing, baggage drop, security checks and boarding,” said Sharifah Nurfariha who was taking her friends to visit her hometown Kota Kinabalu.
“There was no need for us to rummage through our bags in search of documents at each checkpoint. More passengers should use biometrics when travelling.”
The trio, in their early 20s, were using Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s new biometric facial recognition system called EZPaz and its self-bag drop facility, EZBagz.
(From left) Hureen Ereena, Sharifah Nurfariha and Amrina Izzah breezed through the airport from kerbside to take off with ease, thanks to the use of EZPaz and EZBagz which leverage on technology.
Faster system
The surge of facial recognition technology used in airports worldwide has enabled passengers to move through airport processes with ease.
Recognising this, Malaysia Airports launched EZPaz in April 2022 and EZBagz in May 2023 for passengers to enjoy a stress-free journey from kerbside to takeoff.
The system is an end-to-end passenger facilitation process for seamless identification at every touchpoint of the airport process using facial biometric technology.
Besides KLIA Terminal 1, the biometric system has also been implemented at KLIA Terminal 2.
To begin, one must first go through the initial face scan to register their biometric data at the EZPaz kiosk for check-in, or head to the V-desks for assisted biometric registration or totem for biometric self-registration.
All these kiosks and facilities are immediately visible and accessible upon entering KLIA Terminals 1 and 2. Passengers can also download the MYAirports or Air Asia FACES app to register their initial biometrics prior to arriving at the airport.
“Biometric registration is an important first step which many passengers skip. If passengers don’t perform the biometric registration, they can’t proceed for a seamless journey through the various security checkpoints,” said Malaysia Airports Bhd IT Division general manager Maz Hiza Nazly Othman.
After the initial biometric scan, passengers would then be able to check in, validate documents, and print bag tags at the EZPaz kiosk, drop their luggage at EZBagz counters, go through security checks and board their flight – using only their face.
This innovative approach eradicates manual checks, leading to faster processing times, significantly reduced wait times, less congestion and fewer delays – resulting in a more pleasant airport experience for everyone involved.
A passenger printing her bag tag at the EZPaz kiosk after enrolling her biometrics and checking in for her flight.
Enhanced security
Airport security and safety have significantly improved with the introduction of biometric technology as it accurately verifies the identity of passengers by comparing facial features with those in a database – reducing fraud and impersonation.
“While privacy concerns may arise, passengers should be comforted to know that Malaysia Airports has fulfilled all requirements of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
“Additionally, Malaysia Airports does not keep any of the biometric data. All related data of a passenger will be purged three hours after flight departure,” said Nazly.
He added that passengers are informed about privacy concerns before using the system, ensuring transparency and compliance with data protection regulations.
Sharing that Malaysia Airports is constantly working to refine its biometrics system to minimise biases, ensure fairness, and improve accuracy for all individuals across all demographic groups, Nazly said: “Continuous monitoring, testing, and enhancement are integral parts of Malaysia Airports’ approach to enhance the accuracy and inclusivity of our facial recognition system.”
Expansion plans
Passengers who have experienced EZPaz and EZBagz have been impressed with Malaysia Airports’ end-to-end seamless digital experience throughout KLIA Terminals 1 and 2.
“EZPaz’s usage rate by passengers shows an ascending trend from month to month which uplifts the passenger experience throughout the airport terminal,” said KLIA Terminal 1 general manager Abd Hasman Abd Muhimim.
“We are constantly receiving positive feedback from our frequent flyers. They have been using EZPaz and EZBagz every time they travel with us.”
To date, Malaysia Airports has installed 16 EZPaz kiosks and six EZBagz kiosks at KLIA Terminal 1. Fourteen more EZPaz kiosks will be installed before the first quarter of 2024.
The company will also further enhance the EZBagz system in KLIA Terminals 1 and 2 in 2024.
Moving forward, Malaysia Airports aims to expand the reach of EZPaz apart from Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia to other airlines such as Batik Air, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, All Nippon Airways, and more – in line with its Airports 4.0 initiatives.
“Malaysia Airports is in the process of upgrading our network of airports, especially at the five international airports in Malaysia, as well as services for persons with reduced mobility (PRM), transit journeys, among others,” said Abd Hasman.
With the increased usage of biometrics, he said that more airlines would find KLIA attractive, in addition to optimising the airport capacity to accommodate the growing passenger movements that should reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024.
