Bengaluru Airport launches India's first biometric-enabled self-bag drop facility

Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), the operator of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), has introduced the country's first biometric-enabled self-bag drop facility. This innovation allows DigiYatra domestic passengers flying with Tata Group Airlines from Terminal 2 to initiate the self-bag drop process simply by scanning their faces.

Previously, passengers using the self-bag drop facility at KIA had to print a boarding pass at self-check-in kiosks and scan it to start the bag drop process. Now, with DigiYatra's face-scan biometric technology, domestic passengers can navigate the airport without needing a boarding pass or ID.

Bengaluru airport has a history of pioneering technological advancements. It introduced a fully automated 'self-bag drop' system in 2018 and piloted DigiYatra in 2019 to streamline passenger flow and reduce queues.


Biometric self-bag drop facility: How it works
DigiYatra passengers using the self-bag drop at Bengaluru airport can select the 'scan your face biometric for baggage drop' option. They will then be prompted to choose the 'DigiYatra' icon to proceed. The machine will instruct the passenger to look directly into the camera to capture their biometric image. It will then generate the passenger's flight details and prompt them to declare any dangerous goods they might be carrying.

Once this declaration is made, the machine will instruct the passenger to place their bag on the conveyor. It will then prompt them to attach a baggage tag, which can be generated by the machine or printed at a self-kiosk beforehand. The bag will be measured, weighed, scanned, and automatically fed into the baggage handling system, and a baggage receipt will be generated.

In cases of excess baggage, passengers will be directed to a counter for payment. However, soon, machines will offer a UPI payment option for passengers to pay for excess baggage on the spot. Passengers who prefer not to use biometrics can continue to scan their boarding pass to initiate the self-bag drop process.