“Meet the People of Aptitude” introduces the experts and innovators working behind the Aptitude project, one of Europe’s large-scale pilots testing the European Digital Identity Wallet in real-life conditions.
In this interview, we meet Franck Le Gall, Airport Operations Director at ADP Group. His experience managing one of Europe’s busiest airport hubs gives him a uniquely concrete perspective on what the wallet means in practice. From reducing queues at border control to reimagining how terminals are designed, Franck explains how the European Digital Identity Wallet could fundamentally change the way we travel across Europe.
How could the European Digital Identity Wallet simplify the traveller experience in airports?
“The wallet is a game changer in passenger experience and for all air transport operators because we can prepare in advance. It will be much simpler, there will be much less queuing because border processing time will be shorter. And then it opens up perspectives to use the same wallet not only for border control but also for boarding, renting cars or even tax-free procedures for example.”
What benefits do you see for airport operations in terms of time savings, security and smoother processes?
“One major challenge we face concerns flight connections. Being able to make a connection in under an hour, getting off the plane, passing controls and boarding again. We cannot lose a single minute at checkpoints. For an airport operator, it is essential to succeed in these transitions.
Today we face a strong challenge demanded by the Schengen Code, which requires a physical wall to separate flights going to Europe and flights going internationally. Our goal is to replace that with a kind of digital wall. Meaning we could mix passengers in the same departure hall, whether travelling within Europe or internationally, but with pre-controls already completed. When they board, there will be a secure check thanks to the digital wallet. It is a game changer because terminals will completely change in France and in all the major European hubs.”
What other possible uses do you imagine for the future?
“This morning an idea came up in our discussions: to come and work at an airport, you need very strict authentication with preliminary identity checks. It is called a red badge. All of this is still very manual today. Tomorrow, with digital technology, you can imagine simplifying all these identity and access checks, including for employees, with a much more secure and seamless digital process.”
The Aptitude project brings together partners from 12 EU Member States and Ukraine to test the European Digital Identity Wallet in real-life scenarios such as travel, payments and digital services. The goal is to make digital identity secure, trusted and citizen-controlled, while ensuring services can work seamlessly across borders.
Learn more about Digital Travel Credentials: https://aptitude.digital-identity-wallet.eu/wallet-use/digital-travel-credentials/
Learn more about the Aptitude Consortium: https://aptitude.digital-identity-wallet.eu/our-consortium/
