Migom to the Gate: Russia to Roll Out Biometric Boarding for Air Travel
The new service is designed to allow passengers to board flights without presenting a passport.
Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot has completed successful trials of a new biometric service called Migom. The system is intended to let passengers complete all pre-flight procedures – from check-in to boarding – using biometric data. Paper documents would no longer be required at control points. The airline says the service is expected to launch in the second half of 2026.
At the same time, Aeroflot’s press service stresses that passengers will retain a choice of how they board an aircraft – either using a passport or via biometric identification.
The system is built on the government-run Unified Biometric System. Personal data protection relies on Russian cryptographic software. The project is being implemented jointly with the airline’s IT subsidiary, St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport, and relevant government agencies.
Convenience and Control
The rollout of the technology is expected to make travel more convenient for passengers while also strengthening compliance with aviation procedures. Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg has been selected as the pilot site, with plans to extend the system later to other major hubs, including Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.
According to the developers, the successful trials once again highlight Russia’s technological ambitions in intelligent transport systems. Migom is positioned as a ready-made and secure model of biometric passenger service that could be replicated elsewhere.
