EU digital identity wallet for hassle-free travel successfully passes first tests

Services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay have transformed the payment experience by allowing consumers to pay online or in person with a single click or tap, executing payments from a card stored in a digital wallet. A similar experience is now being tested for travel. Amadeus and Lufthansa are testing the EU's digital identity wallet for hassle-free travel.

Amadeus and Lufthansa are testing the EU's digital identity wallet for hassle-free travel.

 

EU digital identity wallets (EUDI Wallet), available to citizens in 2026, will be provided by member states to securely store identity documents such as passports and national ID cards, as well as payment methods and biomedical profiles.

This summer, Amadeus and Lufthansa, both partners participating in the large-scale pilot project of the EU Digital Identity Wallet Consortium, successfully tested the wallet for online check-in and for face-to-face travel situations at the airport, such as check-in, baggage check-in and boarding. By the end of 2025, Amadeus will testá the wallet for digital travel credential use cases, such as airport security and border control.

The EU digital identity wallet isá aimed at improving the travel experience in several areas:

Online check-in: instead of manually entering passport data on the airline's website, travelers can opt to provide the documents stored in the wallet with a single click.

Biometric registration: With a single click or tap, travelers can choose to securely share their biomic profile, stored in the wallet, with an airline either online or at airport touchpoints, saving them from having to take a selfie or scan documents to use biometrics at the airport.

At the airport: instead of presenting physical documents, travelers can tap with their phone at check-in counters, self-service kiosks, automatic baggage drop-off machines, lounge entrance and boarding gates (if the traveler has opted to use biometric data, only a facial scan is required).

At the border: In the future, instead of scanning passports at electronic immigration gates, travelers will be able to share their credentials securely from their phone.

Payments: the wallet can also be used to securely pay for services online and at key points at the airport by accessing a stored payment card.

Amadeus has enhanced its Travel Ready solution in anticipation of the widespread use of the EU digital identity wallet. In addition to its own digital wallet, which can be white-labeled for travel companies and allows travel companies or airports to perform advanced visa verification, Travel Ready also provides the infrastructure that allows third-party wallets, such as the EUDI Wallet, to operate with the travel industry. Amadeus will also continue to work on compatibility and interoperability with all future wallets that support digital identity.

Amadeus will continue to work on compatibility and interoperability with all future wallets that support digital identity.