Digital wallets are defining a range of services online, transforming payments and now pathing the way for seamless travel. Amadeus and Lufthansa are trialling digital wallets that allow airlines to accept identity documents such as passports and biometric data securely stored in the wallet. The digital wallet would support digital versions of essential ID documents, facilitating travel processes like biometric enrolment.
Under the European Digital ID Framework, all EU member states must adopt digital wallets by 2026.
By this summer, Amadeus and Lufthansa, partners of the Wallet Consortium Large Scale pilot project, successfully piloted the wallet for online and in-person travel scenarios at the airport, which will be linked to the testing of the digital travel credential. The wallet is set to boost several areas of the travel experience such as, online check-in, sharing biometric data for enrolment, and scanning credentials at immigration eGates.
Falk Durm, Senior Director Ground Experience Product & Design, at Lufthansa hailed that “air travel is about to get a lot easier for Europeans”.
“By removing frustrating and repetitive document scans, EUDI Wallets fully digitalize identity verification, resulting in faster, smoother and more enjoyable travel.”
Digital wallets are the “missing piece of the jigsaw” for seamless travel to support facial recognition.
Travel Ready, designed with in-built privacy and security, enables third-party wallets like the EUDI Wallet to operate with the travel industry.
Amadeus will also continue to work on compatibility and interoperability with all future wallets supporting Digital Identity.
In the second half of 2025, Amadeus will test the EUDI Wallet for a broader range of use cases, including biometric enrolment and immigration, with other partners.
