Airlines

Alaska Airlines announces next step of biometric strategy, Verify your passport from home

Alaska Airlines is assisting you in skipping even more airport lineups. They lets you securely verify your passport before you arrive at the airport with a handful of fast images. That means more time to snag some last-minute sunscreen or start your vacation early with a pre-flight beverage.

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Any traveller departing or entering the United States must have their airline verify their passport. Today marks the launch of new Mobile Verify programme, which is available to passengers flying abroad on Alaska flights with U.S. or Canadian passports. This means that you may do this step safely and securely from the comfort of your home rather than having to stand in a queue to have a customer service representative check your documents in the lobby or at the gate.

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The safety and security of guests and their information is the highest priority. Alaska selected a solution that allows guests to completely control the access to their information – everything lives on your smartphone, and you decide when and where it’s shared. This secure process ensures a high level of privacy while also saving you time.

How does Mobile Verify work?

One time set-up

First, you will need to create your digital identity – you only have to do this once during the lifespan of your passport.

download the Airside Digital Identity mobile app on an iOS or Android device.
take a selfie of your face.
scan your passport photo page.
hold your phone against the inside of the passport’s back cover to read the embedded chip.

The app verifies your information by scanning the photo page of the passport and reading the embedded NFC chip. Then, the digital ID is securely stored on your mobile device until you choose where and when to share it.

Before each trip

Because you have already created your digital identity, there are just a couple steps before a trip. The Alaska app will prompt you to open your Airside app to:

select your departure date and location.
enter your confirmation code.

This gives a one-time consent to use your digital identity, which alerts Alaska that you have had your documents verified for international travel and do not need to see an agent. You’ll repeat this simple process for each international trip.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.