Digi Yatra, India's transformative Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) platform, has made remarkable strides in 2024, redefining air travel through cutting-edge face biometric technology. The platform now boasts over nine million active users and expanded its operations from three to 24 airports across the country, marking significant growth since its launch.
Officials announced on December 26, 2024, this success story encapsulates the growing trust and acceptance of digital solutions within the aviation sector. The platform facilitated over 42 million seamless journeys, providing passengers with contactless airport processing, which has become increasingly popular as it continues to simplify travel.
“2024 was a defining year for Digi Yatra as it became a nationwide digital ecosystem reshaping how Indians experience air travel,” said Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation. The initiative, which started operating initially at just three airports—Delhi, Bengaluru, and Varanasi—now serves 24, demonstrating its rapid adoption among travelers. With about 30,000 app downloads occurring daily, the momentum does not appear to be slowing down, signifying the platform's pivotal role in modernizing travel logistics.
The underlying philosophy of Digi Yatra is to empower travelers with autonomy over their personal data. The system allows users to register their biometric information just once, considerably alleviating the burden of traditional document checks at security and boarding gates. Passengers experience smooth sailing through various stages of airport processing without the need for long queues or repeated verification of identities.
Another milestone for Digi Yatra came through its collaboration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This partnership, known as the ‘IATA One-ID X Digi Yatra India’ initiative, is instrumental in creating seamless international travel experiences. This collaboration is expected to play a fundamental role as the platform gears up for international expansion, setting the stage for innovative operational standards moving forward.
Realizing the importance of user privacy, Digi Yatra launched the d-KYC (Don’t Know Your Customer) campaign, sustaining its commitment to safeguarding passenger data. The campaign was officially introduced in October 2024 and ensures no personal information is stored or accessed by any central database. “We poured our resources to address security concerns of passengers and to explain our Decentralized Ecosystem based on Self Sovereign Identity, setting new standards for responsible data management,” Khadakbhavi added.
Looking forward, Digi Yatra is set to amplify its efforts with ambitious plans for 2025. This includes adding four more airports to its growing list, and supporting all 22 official languages of India by March 2025. This strategic move aims to render the app more accessible, enabling travelers of diverse linguistic backgrounds to navigate the interface with confidence.
By June 2025, Digi Yatra is also contemplating launching international pilot projects geared toward foreign passengers carrying electronic passports (e-passports). This perspective is not simply about scaling operations but is deeply focused on establishing bilateral agreements for operational integrity and showcasing the platform's security features.
Khadakbhavi reflects on how the advances made over 2024 aim to optimize every aspect of air travel, “We look forward to continuing our growth by adding four more airports. Our vision is to create a more integrated and secure global travel ecosystem.”
Accomplishing these milestones signals the platform's ambition to not only modernize air travel within India but to potentially lead innovations on the global stage. The expectation of increasing passenger flow combined with the ambition for resiliency and privacy leads to enhanced experiences across the board.
With international trials on the horizon, Digi Yatra is also prepared to initiate awareness campaigns to educate passengers about the security of their data, ensuring confidence as they transition to this upcoming chapter of travel convenience. For travelers, this evolution translates to smoother journeys without the unnecessary anxiety of data exposure or facing bureaucratic hurdles, marking continued progress for the Indian aviation industry.
By strategically focusing on technological innovation, solidifying user trust, and delivering seamless travel experiences, Digi Yatra is poised to become integral to the future of air travel—both within India and across international boundaries. The current growth reflects not merely numbers but the shaping of the future at every airport where the platform operates, reinforcing its position as the digital backbone of convenient air travel.
