Exploring Passenger Perceptions of Biometric Security in Air Travel

By Dr. Ali Kassir, Manager Sales Middle East, North & East Africa —

Published in the Euro Med Journal of Management, Volume 7, Issue 1/2 (December 2025)

The Future of Airport Security Is Written on Your Face

Airports and airlines are rapidly embracing biometric technologies—facial recognition, fingerprint, and iris scanning—to streamline passenger journeys and strengthen security. Yet, the true measure of success for these systems lies not only in their technical reliability but also in how travelers perceive and trust them. But how do passengers truly feel about being identified by machines?

In his newly published paper, “Exploring Passenger Perceptions of Biometric Security in Air Travel,” Dr. Ali Kassir examines the human side of this technological shift. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study investigates how passengers evaluate, accept, and emotionally respond to biometric identity verification throughout the airport experience.

Key Insights from the Research

• Trust, transparency, and perceived control emerged as the strongest predictors of biometric acceptance.
• Travelers are highly receptive to biometrics when these systems deliver smoother, faster journeys — and when data handling is seen as responsible and secure.
• Privacy concerns remain a critical barrier, especially in regions with limited public understanding of data protection laws.
• A positive biometric experience enhances customer satisfaction and strengthens loyalty toward airlines and airports, positioning secure digital identity as a strategic differentiator in competitive markets.

 

Why it Matters

Ultimately, the study highlights that the future of biometric air travel depends on achieving the right balance between security assurance, transparency, and passenger empowerment. It refines our understanding of how technology, psychology, and regulation intersect in the biometric era. It highlights that the next frontier in aviation innovation is not just faster processing — it’s trusted technology adoption.

Read the Full Paper

“Exploring Passenger Perceptions of Biometric Security in Air Travel”

Published in the EuroMed Journal of Management, Vol. 7, Issue 1/2, December 2025.

Download the paper

 

About the Author

Dr. Ali Kassir is a Senior Consultant at AviaPro, bringing clients two decades of expertise in Airline Systems. His specialized expertise in the aviation consulting industry covers project management, inventory distribution, helpdesk operations, data protection, and compliance.
Holding a PhD in Business Administration from the Université d'Angers, in France, Dr. Kassir also works as an academic in the field of commercial aviation. A prolific contributor to industry publications, he researches and shares valuable insights and recommendations, influencing key stakeholders in the ever-evolving aviation sector.
At AviaPro, Dr. Kassir spearheads critical airline and airport projects, overseeing training programs, New Distribution Capability (NDC) implementation, and commercial technical systems management. His high-level mastery of Amadeus systems and comprehensive knowledge in General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance are instrumental in shaping the strategic framework of the projects he leads.