SAS starts hi-tech ID tests

SAS Scandinavian Airlines has started a six month customer trial of iris recognition and finger printing tests with 120 of its frequent flyers. The trials are taking place at Umeå airport in Sweden. If the tests prove successful they could eventually lead to a system which increased security and also led to faster passenger flow through the airport. The test is being conducted using smart SAS cards, on which the travellers’ fingerprints and iris images are stored. The card is read at the gate and verified by a comparison of the customer’s fingerprint or iris scan. Umeå Airport, where the tests are taking place, serves Swedish domestic routes with Scandinavian Airlines to Stockholm and Kiruna in Lapland.