Having acquired Vision Box in 2024 Amadeus is now leading the way with its end to end biometric solutions through the airport.
Speaking at Passenger Terminal Expo (PTE) 20205 in Madrid last week, Alessandro Minucci, Product Management Director at Amadeus told Regional Gateway how Vision Box’s Free Flow technology will revolutionise the passenger experience providing a truly seamless journey from curb to gate.
Designed to make border crossings and airport checkpoints as seamless as possible, the Free Flow concept eliminates traditional control barriers to enable seamless, contactless travel. By replacing narrow access controls with wider corridors equipped with AI-based image processing and tracking technology and combining smartphone biometric registration, advanced camera systems and intuitive passenger guidance configurations, Free Flow ensures a smoother passenger experience.
“When we trialled this technology at Dubai International Airport with the Free Flow smart lane, passengers were initially unsure of what to do,” said Minucci. “There were no officers, no queues and no traditional gates. Just a sleek lane and a sign encouraging passengers to walk through the corridor.”
Multiple passengers can pass through the Free Flow lane at the same time, enabling families and groups to stay together and ensuring more efficient passenger processing. “Where traditional systems process one passenger every 10 to 15 seconds, Free Flow technology handles up to seven passengers simultaneously in just half a second,” continued Minucci.
Early adopters
While the pilot in Dubai featured just one lane, its capacity equalled several traditional lanes. The results, said Minucci were a strong “proof of value” showing the technology can scale to meet growing demand. “By 2030 we expect to see more installations of this technology being rolled out on a wider scale.”
He also acknowledged that with their strong interest and investment in innovation, regions like the Middle East and Asia-Pacific are expected to lead early adoption of this technology.
One of the key benefits of Free Flow is its flexibility. Whether passengers want to scan their boarding pass or use Bluetooth-enabled wallets the system adapts. So, it can be used across various touch points in the passenger journey from e-gates to border control to boarding. Minucci also emphasised that the digital wallet extends beyond the airport to car rentals, hotels and retail spaces.
Not just for the big players
Large primary hubs might have the resources to install next-generation biometric gates but regional and smaller airports aren’t being left behind. Minucci explained how Amadeus offers scalable options that deliver the same experience without the bulky infrastructure. “A smaller airport might not need to invest in the full hardware infrastructure but instead can focus on the biometric technology and the digital transformation. It’s not about big installations, but about making the whole process more more consistent, more efficient and optimising space in the terminal.” Faster, more efficient processing means less queuing and more time for retail, dining and relaxation before a flight, he continued.
“Our vision is to take the stress out of the journey so passengers don’t even realise they’re travelling through an airport it’s just a seamless transition to the aircraft.”
Image: Alessandro Minucci on the Amadeus stand at PTE 2025
