WestJet invests in facial recognition technology to assist with fraud prevention

This story was updated on Tuesday, January 14 at 5:42 p.m. EST

Software company Checkin.com Group is bringing its biometric solutions to WestJet as part of a newly-signed agreement.

According to a Jan. 13 press release, travellers flying with WestJet will be identified using software that utilizes facial recognition technology.

“Hopefully this agreement is a first step towards getting more close collaborations as the one we have with the European airline we already work with,” said Christian Karlsson, CEO at Checkin.com Group, in a statement.

“We have great hopes for the travel vertical in general and I think the agreement showcases that the airline industry is ready to grasp the possibilities with biometry and face recognition to improve the user experience of their travellers.”

“Additionally, airlines in North America is still a quite untapped market for us at Checkin.com and to bring in a customer of this caliber is a bit of a breakthrough from that perspective as well.”  

Fraud prevention

In a statement to PAX, WestJet spokesperson Josh Yeats said the airline (inclusive of Sunwing) has partnered with Checkin.com to assist with fraud prevention "on a small percentage of bookings where we feel there is a risk that exceeds the scope of our existing layers of guest security and protection." 

"The partnership enables us to prompt the prospective guest to verify their ID by leveraging this unique software," Yeats said.

The airline does not have plans to introduce facial recognition technology for travellers in 2025, "though strategic review and evaluation will continue over the longer term," Yeats said. 

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