Russia Installs Biometric Boarding Scanners at Major Airport
Passengers at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport will soon be able to board flights using facial recognition instead of passports, as Russia expands its national biometric system into air travel.
New 'Migom' scanners equipped with biometric software have been installed at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, according to the Russian government’s press office. The system allows passengers to pass security checks and board their flights without presenting a physical ID.
A limited group of travelers will begin testing the service in 2026. The 'Migom' platform is built on Russia’s state biometric system, which stores encrypted facial data for identification purposes.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko, who reviewed the project’s readiness, said the new system will simplify preflight procedures. Passengers on domestic flights will no longer need to show documents during check-in, security clearance, or boarding—they’ll just need to register their biometric data in advance and consent to its use.
Earlier reports noted that Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport has already upgraded its IT infrastructure to support biometric identification and is preparing to deploy the technology soon. However, full implementation will require updates to Russian aviation regulations.
