Digi Yatra International Trials Begin: Air India, IndiGo Join

International Digital Processing Begins at Seven Indian Airports

Digi Yatra has commenced trials to extend its contactless passenger processing system to international departures at seven airports across India. The three-month pilot programme, running from October to December this year, is available to Indian nationals holding e-passports who are travelling internationally with Air India and IndiGo.

The participating airports include Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai, and Amritsar. This initiative aims to streamline the pre-boarding process for eligible travellers, with the trials officially going live on 1 November 2026, setting the stage for a potential wider implementation in 2027.

Digital Credential Creation and Airport Use

To participate, eligible passengers must create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential using the Digi Yatra mobile application. This process involves scanning the machine-readable zone of their passport, utilising a compatible smartphone's Near Field Communication (NFC) capability to read the embedded chip, capturing a selfie, and then verifying the collected details.

The digital credential is then securely stored in the passenger's Digi Yatra wallet on their device, allowing its use at designated airport touchpoints such as terminal entry, security hold areas, and boarding gates, where infrastructure permits.

Travellers are still required to carry their physical travel documents and complete all mandatory airline document checks and immigration procedures.

Expanding Domestic Reach and App Enhancements

These international trials build upon Digi Yatra's established presence within India's domestic aviation network. The platform currently boasts over 26.5 million users and has facilitated more than 110 million journeys. It is operational at 39 domestic airports and supports 11 domestic airlines, achieving an average airport adoption rate of approximately 30 per cent.

Furthermore, Digi Yatra is available in 11 regional languages, with plans to expand to all 22 scheduled by 2027. An additional 25 domestic airports are also slated for coverage by the same year.

Alongside the international pilot, Digi Yatra recently introduced a redesigned mobile application, featuring a clearer interface, improved boarding pass displays with airline-specific colours, simplified navigation, and a more structured credential wallet.

The update also includes clearer indicators for guardian and minor credentials, alongside a revised consent screen explaining data sharing practices.

Future of Digital Identity in Cross-Border Travel

Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation, stated that the platform has already demonstrated how digital identity can simplify domestic air travel. He noted the international trials as a significant step towards extending this benefit to eligible Indian nationals travelling abroad.

Khadakbhavi added that interoperability with global frameworks, such as IATA’s One ID and ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD), will be crucial. This exploration aims to determine how e-passport-based digital credentials can enable more efficient and secure passenger movements across borders, while prioritising passenger consent, privacy, and security.

Feedback gathered from this three-month international trial programme is expected to inform the plans for a broader rollout of the system in 2027. This initiative positions India as a leader in digital travel innovation within Asia, potentially influencing other regional aviation markets considering similar advancements for their own travellers.