A European digital wallet in response to Apple Wallet and Google Wallett. The European Union is working on a joint response with the advent, expected by the end of 2026, of the EUDI Wallet. A digital application where citizens and residents of EU countries will be able to securely store their passportsThis is an all-in-one solution for business travellers, but not just for business travellers. A practical all-in-one solution for business travellers, but not just for business travellers.
The scope of the EUDI Wallet extends to electronic relations with public services such as banks. This will make it easier to open accounts or apply for loans. Supported by the eIDAS 2.0 regulation (Electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services), dating from 2024, this technological development is based on a growing need for secure digital authentication and will include enhanced electronic signatures. All this will be done with personal data that isn't just wandering around. stored and managed on the smartphone of the user.
By 2030, the EU hopes that 80 % of citizens will have such a digital wallet. But there is no doubt that frequent travellers will be the first to adopt it and its benefits. In anticipation of this, technology specialist Amadeus and airline Lufthansa took part this summer in a large-scale pilot project run by the EU Digital Identity Wallet consortium.
These two key players in the European travel industry have successfully tested this wallet for online check-in and various stages of the airport journey. Instead of having to manually enter the information required for online check-in on the airline's website, travellers were able to provide in just one click their passport or other necessary document. Similarly, once at the airport, instead of presenting physical documents, their phone communicates with self-service kiosks or automatic baggage check-in machines to speed up check-in.
In the second half of 2025, Amadeus will test the EUDI portfolio for a wider range of use cases, including biometric registration and border control. " By eliminating frustrating and repetitive document scans, EUDI wallets fully digitise identity verification, making travel faster, smoother and more enjoyable. "said Falk Durm, Senior Director Ground Experience Product & Design at Lufthansa.
These advances, which are bringing us ever closer together, have been made possible by an improved solution. Amadeus Travel ReadyEUDI Wallet, enabling third-party wallets such as EUDI Wallet to work with the travel industry, in compliance with security standards and the protection of users' privacy rights. " Digital identity is the missing piece of the jigsaw for truly seamless travelcommented Rudy Daniello, Executive Vice President AirOps at Amadeus. With the installation of facial recognition technology in airports, border crossings, cruise terminals and even hotels, travellers will soon be able to pass through every stage of their journey without having to show their passport or other documents. "
