British Airways is to trial the use of biometric technology for international flights, which will allow passengers to travel through the airport without having to show their passports.
The system will allow participating customers to scan their face, passport and boarding pass on their smart device before heading to the airport.
When these passengers arrive at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5, special Smart Bio-Pod cameras will verify their identity “in under three seconds”, so they will not have to use their physical passport.
David Breeze, operations transformation manager for British Airways, explained: “Not only is this the first time that our customers have been able to register their biometric information at home, but it’s the first time they can use it for British Airways’ international flights.
“This is a secure and efficient tool that makes for a smarter and smoother airport experience, which will reduce the time it takes us to board aircraft.”
The trial will run for six months on British Airways’ flights from Heathrow to Malaga in Spain. Customers who opt-in will be allowed to use the fast-track security lane and will also receive complimentary priority boarding.
If the trial is a success, BA said it would be extended to more international flights. The technology used in the pilot programme has been created by travel technology company Amadeus and customised for the airline.
BA first introduced automated biometric technology on domestic flights in 2017, which records the facial scans of passengers at security and then matches these images at the boarding gate.
Customers in the new trial will be invited to volunteer and will receive an email three days ahead of their flight. They will still be required to carry their passport when travelling as it will be needed at their destination airport.