Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia is set to become the first airline in the world to use Interpol’s I-Checkit system for enhanced security, the international police agency announced today.

It will allow passenger passport numbers to be compared against Interpol’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database, which contains more than 40 million records from 167 countries.

I-Checkit, however, will not allow the airline gain direct access to the database.

“With the pilot project respecting national legislation linked to data protection, no personal data will be transmitted to Interpol, with only the travel document number, form of document and country code screened against SLTD,” Interpol said Tuesday.

“Should a passenger’s passport register a positive match against the database, AirAsia has procedures in place that will refer the passenger to local authorities. Interpol’s procedures would simultaneously be engaged to notify all relevant Interpol National Central Bureaus worldwide,” it added.

I-Checkit will be deployed later this month, Interpol said. The initiative is part of Interpol’s Turn Back Crime global awareness campaign.

“AirAsia is extremely pleased to be the first airline globally to collaborate with Interpol to implement I-Checkit,” said Group CEO Tony Fernandes.

Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble during a visit to AirAsia operations at Kuala Lumpur’s klia2 terminal. Interpol photo.

“The partnership we have created will result in improved passenger security and will support our desire to offer low fares, but with the added assurance that this system and partnership provides.”

Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble called I-Checkit the new standard for airline security.

“After today, airlines will no longer have to depend solely on countries screening passports to keep passengers safe from terrorists and other criminals who use stolen passports to board flights. Like AirAsia, they will be able to do it themselves as well,” he said.

AirAsia Group, based in Kuala Lumpur, operates flights to nearly 100 destinations in more than 20 countries.