Privacy-first digital identity platform expands nationwide footprint, advances international interoperability and explores applications beyond aviation
India’s biometric-enabled travel platform Digi Yatra has crossed the milestone of 100 million passenger journeys, highlighting the growing acceptance of contactless and secure digital travel across the country. With more than 24 million app downloads and operations spanning 38 airports, the platform is entering a new phase of expansion focused on wider airport coverage, multilingual accessibility, international travel integration and broader digital identity applications.
Digi Yatra, India’s flagship digital travel initiative designed to deliver seamless and contactless airport experiences, has achieved a major milestone by surpassing 100 million passenger journeys. The achievement reflects the rapid adoption of biometric-enabled travel across India’s aviation ecosystem and underscores the growing confidence of passengers in privacy-focused digital identity solutions.
The platform, which has recorded more than 24 million app downloads since its launch, continues to gain momentum as travellers increasingly seek faster, more convenient and secure airport experiences. The milestone also highlights the aviation sector’s ongoing digital transformation, driven by technology-led initiatives aimed at improving passenger convenience while enhancing operational efficiency.
At the core of Digi Yatra’s success is its privacy-by-design architecture, which enables travellers to verify their identity seamlessly without compromising data security. Built on Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) principles, the platform allows users to retain control of their personal information through encrypted, consent-based and decentralised credential management. Unlike conventional identity systems, Digi Yatra does not rely on centralised storage of personal data, reinforcing its commitment to privacy and user autonomy.
The achievement comes as the platform prepares for an ambitious expansion phase. Currently operational at 38 airports across India, Digi Yatra plans to extend its services to an additional 27 airports by 2027. The expansion aligns with the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s broader vision of leveraging digital innovation to create a smarter, more efficient and future-ready aviation ecosystem while improving the travel experience for millions of passengers.
Commenting on the milestone, Suresh Khadakbhavi, Chief Executive Officer of Digi Yatra Foundation, said the platform’s growth reflects increasing public trust in secure digital identity frameworks.
“Crossing 100 million passenger journeys reflects the growing trust passengers have placed in Digi Yatra’s privacy-first approach to digital identity. As we expand to more airports, introduce additional regional languages, advance international interoperability, and explore new applications beyond aviation, our focus remains on building infrastructure that is secure, inclusive and user-controlled. The opportunity ahead is to create trusted digital identity frameworks that can support multiple sectors while upholding the principles of privacy, consent and interoperability,” he said.
A key component of Digi Yatra’s next phase involves enhancing accessibility and inclusivity. The platform currently supports 11 regional languages and plans to expand support to all 22 officially recognised Indian languages by 2027. The move is expected to make digital travel services more accessible to passengers across diverse linguistic and regional backgrounds.
The foundation is also advancing efforts to position India at the forefront of contactless international travel. Following the successful completion of an international travel proof of concept aligned with standards established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Digi Yatra is preparing to launch live international trials in collaboration with airlines, airports and other ecosystem stakeholders.
The initiative aims to enable seamless cross-border travel through the use of verifiable digital credentials and consent-based identity sharing, allowing travellers to move through airports more efficiently while maintaining full control over their personal information. Successful implementation could significantly enhance passenger experiences and contribute to the development of globally interoperable digital travel ecosystems.
Beyond aviation, Digi Yatra is exploring opportunities to apply its privacy-centric digital identity framework across other sectors. During the latter half of 2026 and into 2027, the foundation plans to evaluate and pilot select non-aviation use cases that could leverage biometric authentication, secure digital credentials and consent-based information sharing to simplify user interactions while maintaining high standards of privacy and trust.
Industry experts view Digi Yatra as a pioneering example of how digital identity infrastructure can transform customer experiences at scale. The platform’s success demonstrates the growing role of biometric technologies and secure digital credentials in modernising public services and enhancing operational efficiency across sectors.
As passenger volumes continue to rise and airports invest in digital transformation initiatives, platforms such as Digi Yatra are expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of travel. By combining convenience, security and user control, the initiative is helping redefine how passengers navigate airports while establishing a model that could eventually extend beyond aviation into broader digital public infrastructure.
The milestone marks not only a significant achievement for Digi Yatra but also a broader step forward in India’s journey toward creating a digitally empowered, privacy-conscious and globally connected travel ecosystem.
