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Heathrow trials iris recognition
A five-month trial using the latest iris recognition technology to speed up the arrivals process and maximise space in the immigration hall has begun at Heathrow airport.
The automated iris recognition stations have been placed in the immigration halls of Terminals 3 and 4 at Heathrow from where Virgin and BA operate their north Atlantic routes.
As reported by TravelMole in August, the trial will allow up to 2,000 invited passengers who travel frequently as visitors to the UK with Virgin and BA to pass through passport control in a matter of seconds. It has been set up through IATA’s Simplifying Passenger Travel Interest Group and is run by the UK Immigration Service, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, BAA and EyeTicket,
Commenting on the trial, BAA Heathrow’s Managing Director, Mick Temple said: “With this trial we hope to establish that iris recognition technology can prove to be a safe, effective and highly accurate means of ensuring passengers on arrival are legitimate entrants to the UK.
“Although this particular trial is about simplifying a passenger’s progress through the airport, we will also consider whether in the longer term this sort of technology could have wider security benefits.”
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