The European Digital Identity Wallet (EDIW) is set to revolutionise the way low-cost airlines operate across the European market.
With airlines required to become relying parties by the end of 2027, there’s a significant opportunity for carriers serving the entire European market to leverage this technology for enhanced efficiency, security, and customer experience.
Partnering with industry experts like Adam Kissane (founder of Nua Léargas), we offer strategic guidance to businesses in the fintech sector, helping them navigate complex legislative changes, such as Payment Services Directive 3, Payment Services Regulation, eIDAS 2.0 (European Digital Identity Wallet), the Digital Euro and more.
Words by Adam Kissane, founder of Nua Léargas and strategic alliance partner to Project Foundry.
A certain European Low Cost Carrier (LCC) is facing challenges from the Irish Data Protection Commissioner regarding its identity and verification checks on customers who book through third-party Online Travel Agents (OTAs). These concerns highlight the need for a standardised, secure, and privacy-focused identity verification system – a need that the EDIW is perfectly positioned to address.
The EDIW offers multiple benefits for airlines, including:
Enhanced Privacy and Compliance:
The EDIW’s built-in privacy features can help airlines address data protection concerns. By relying on this EU-backed system, airlines can ensure compliance with GDPR and other privacy regulations, potentially avoiding issues like those raised by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner.
Streamlined Identity Verification:
The EDIW provides a secure and standardised method for verifying passenger identities, eliminating the need for separate verification processes for OTA bookings. This could directly address the concerns raised about a certain LCC current practices.
Simplified Ticket Sales:
Passengers can use their EDIW to purchase tickets quickly and securely, with all necessary identification and payment information readily available and verified, regardless of the booking channel.
Efficient Aircraft Boarding:
The EDIW can expedite the boarding process by allowing passengers to prove their identity swiftly at the gate, reducing queues and improving on-time performance.
Digital Ticket Storage:
Passengers can securely store their airline tickets within the EDIW, eliminating the need for separate apps or paper printouts.
Customer Account account registration:
New customers can seamlessly share verified information about themselves when registering for a customer account and or to login through the EDIW.
Enhanced Loyalty Programs:
Airlines can integrate their loyalty and reward schemes with the EDIW, offering a seamless experience for frequent flyers and potentially increasing customer retention.
Cross-Border Travel Facilitation:
As a standardised EU-wide solution, the EDIW can simplify processes for international travel within the European Union, which is particularly beneficial for airlines that operate extensively across Europe.
Personalised Services:
With passenger consent, airlines can use EDIW data to offer more tailored services and experiences, potentially increasing ancillary revenue.
Cost Reduction:
By streamlining various processes, the EDIW can help low-cost airlines further reduce operational costs, potentially leading to even more competitive pricing for consumers. For
The adoption of the EDIW presents a significant opportunity for airlines to address current privacy and verification challenges while simultaneously enhancing operational efficiency and customer experience. By embracing this secure and privacy-focused solution, airlines can ensure regulatory compliance, improve customer trust, and maintain a competitive edge in the evolving digital landscape of the aviation industry.
As the 2027 deadline approaches for airlines to become relying parties, early adoption of the EDIW could provide a significant advantage in the highly competitive low-cost airline market. For Airlines, this could mean not only resolving current regulatory challenges but also positioning itself as a leader in secure, efficient, and customer-friendly air travel across Europe.
Project Foundry is partnering with Nua Léargas to assist various industries, including the travel sector, to understand and respond to both the opportunity and regulatory compliance obligations airlines are required to meet under the revised eIDAS 2.0 legislation. Please do reach out to Adam for an informal conversation to help your organisation position for success.
About the author
Adam is a payments professional with 18 years’ experience supporting businesses to adapt their organisations in response to a rapidly changing payments landscape. Adam started his payments journey with Ryanair plc, supporting Europe’s largest low-cost airline to streamline its payment acceptance services across multi-gateway and acquiring bank relationships. For five years Adam was head of programmes and change management with AIB Merchant Services, a joint venture between AIB Bank and First Data (latterly Fiserv). More recently, for 8 years, Adam worked led the payments advisory practice for Deloitte Ireland where he supported Deloitte cross-industry clients to address their most pressing payments challenges.
