SITA has stepped up its commitment to developing a permanent digital identity for air travel by becoming a premium donor of the Sovrin Foundation, the international non-profit organisation focused on the advancement of self-sovereign digital identity.

The foundation is a decentralised, global public utility for self-sovereign identity. Self-sovereign means a lifetime portable identity for any person, organisation, or thing that allows the holder to present verifiable credentials in a privacy-protecting way. These credentials can represent things as diverse as a passport, an airline ticket or simply a library card.

SITA’s expanded role is key to speeding up the development of a permanent digital identity accepted by governments, airlines or airports globally for use during air travel yet ensuring privacy and protection of the user’s digital identity.

Gustavo Pina, director of the SITA Lab said: “We expect in the coming years that the development of a universally accepted digital identity will replace the traditional passport. This will allow travel across borders with any airline or airport while ensuring that you, as the passenger, remain in full control of your identity while providing actionable, trusted data only to appropriate parties such as border agencies.”

The benefits include a reduced arrivals infrastructure, providing new opportunities to increase existing airport throughput by design and not expansion.

Having joined the Foundation as a Founding Steward in 2018, it will now take a more active role in supporting Sovrin in the global adoption of self-sovereign identity.