News and insight into biometric identification and authentication

UK employing biometric trial at Heathrow

Monday, October 5, 2009

Heathrow Airport in London is planning to implement a trial run of a new system enabling international travelers to bypass the long lines at immigration, according to a Daily Mail article. The new program sees foreign travelers in a hurry able to pay 50 pounds to skip the lines and by enrolling and utilizing an automated gate that reads a traveler’s biometric data.

The gates, which utilize multiple facial features pertaining to the nose, eyes, mouth and ears, are also available for use by Britons and select EU nationals that have already been issued a biometric passport without charge. Heathrow is hopeful the new program allowing payment by those not already prepared to utilize the gates will assist in paying for the installation of the gates.

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