The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is considering allowing the use of RFID technology for air travel.

A final decision is expected this autumn. Radio frequency identification (RFID) lets data be saved to and read from a chip -- contactless.

In civilian aviation, the technology aims to add flexibility, security, and comfort for passengers and airlines.

The international technology company, Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), in conjunction with the software supplier, Silverstroke, says that it has developed a package solution for passenger processing on the basis of RFID and biometrics.

This aims to cover every aspect from check-in to requesting information and up to boarding.

G&D and Silverstroke will present this development at the "Boeing and Airbus progress and requirements on RFID" event in Ettlingen, Germany on Oct. 17.

The infrastructure developed by G&D and Silverstroke is intended to combine existing solutions from RFID, biometrics, and various consumer devices into one complete solution.

G&D says that it is providing the card applications for contactless technology as well as biometrics, Silverstroke is supplying the software system.

Instead of a normal airline ticket, the passenger will receive a dual-interface card, a smart card that can transmit data via contact or contactless.

To simplify and speed up check in procedures, the card owner?s fingerprint can also be saved on the card.

All passenger transactions, from check-in to boarding, will be processed with the smart card or, optionally, a fingerprint.