Passengers using Terminal 5 at London’s Heathrow Airport will have to submit fingerprints and a digital photo before being allows into the terminal, according to a BAA spokesperson. BAA runs seven airports in the United Kingdom.
The biometric system is used for border control purposes to make sure international travelers who check in for a flight are on the plane. There is concern that international and domestic travelers will switch documents and tickets in the new terminal. Terminal 5, which opens in March, will mix international and domestic passengers so all travelers will have to submit biometrics.
Passengers are asked to provide the data before they proceed through security. At the gate, this information is reconciled to confirm the passengers’ identity and ensures that border control regulations are met. The data is used only by airport staff and is destroyed after 24 hours.
The system is already in use at other airports in the UK, including Gatwick and was introduced in Heathrow’s Terminal 1 on February 1. ![[end]](/resources/bullet/archive-4.gif)
