Two major airports in Europe are working on a new system where you can board a flight without a passport. Airports in Italy are trialling a facial recognition system which means you can pass through the various checkpoints just by showing your face.

FaceBoarding is a facial recognition technology is designed by French IT Company Thales.

The futuristic new equipment is believed to be “safe, simple and fast” and “allows you to proceed more smoothly and efficiently simply.”

The system is likely to be launched at Milan’s Linate Airport and Catania Airport in Sicily and is currently available for passengers flying with ITA Airways and Scandinavian Airlines, reports Euronews.

As per the plan, after checking in online or at the airport, there are designated kiosks where passengers can register for FaceBoarding.

By June, an app is likely to be made available, which means one could do this step at home.

You can register for one flight – or for every flight you take during the course of the trial, until December 2025.

You then scan your passport and boarding pass, as well as your face. There are then separate FaceBoarding lanes at each security check.

The only requirements are that you must be an adult passenger, and the passport or document you use must be a biometric passport (the kind with a chip that you scan at ePassport Gates).

However, this doesn’t mean you can leave your passport at home. You will still need to carry identification – including your passport and boarding pass – through the airport to board your flight.

Heathrow Airport’s TimeSlot initiative allows you to schedule when you go through security.

You can select your timeslot a few days before your trip, receive a QR code, and once at the airport, head to the designated signposted area in Heathrow, which lets you skip the queue.

Additionally, it’s free of charge and can be booked for groups of up to five people.