You are here: silicon.com > Retail & Leisure > News

Biometrics open up Heathrow Terminal One

Domestic fliers rub shoulders with international passengers

Tags: biometrics, airport, heathrow, international

By Nick Heath

Published: 8 February 2008 15:05 GMT

Biometric passenger checks have landed at Heathrow that will allow domestic travellers to access more shops and restaurants.

silicon.com's A to Z of Biometrics

Click on the links below to find out everything you'll need to know about biometric security.

A is for Accuracy
B is for Behavioural biometric
C is for Cash machine
D is for Database
E is for Ear
F is for Facial recognition
G is for Gummi bears
H is for Hand geometry
I is for Iris
J is for Juan Vucetich
K is for Keystroke dynamics
L is for Liveness testing
M is for Mobile phones
N is for Network security
O is for Oxford
P is for Palm
Q is for Queues
R is for Registration
S is for Signature verification
T is for Twins
U is for Universality
V is for Voice verification
W is for Walk
X is for X-ray
Y is for Young
Z is for Zurich Airport

Travellers waiting to board UK-bound flights will now be able to access the larger international departure lounge at Terminal One providing they are willing to undergo the biometric checks.

Passengers will have to provide four fingerprints and have their photograph taken at security so it can be used to check their identity at the gate.

The technology ensures that a transferring international passenger cannot swap travel documents with a domestic passenger in order to evade immigration control.

Fliers connecting onto a UK domestic flight will be directed to follow the international route but will be able to refuse to provide the fingerprints and go to the domestic departure lounge instead.

A spokeswoman for BAA said: "It allows domestic passengers to take advantage of the larger international lounge."

Biometric data is already in use for border control purposes at other airports in the UK, including Gatwick and Manchester Airport.

The system will also be used at Heathrow's world class Terminal 5, when it opens next month.

British Airways, BMI and Aer Lingus all offer domestic flights from Terminal One.

The personal data is encrypted immediately and is destroyed within 24 hours of use in accordance with the UK Data Protection Act.

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure


  • Jobs
SAP FI/CO Analyst/Manager

Huxley Associates are working with a large manufacturing client based in the Heathrow airport area that is looking for a SAP FI/CO Analyst to join ...

Network Security Administrator Level 2 (CCNA, CCNP)

Please note: You MUST be eligible to work in the United Kingdom, and if successfully employed, you be subject to background checks which involve: ...

IT Engineer with Airport experience North West up to 30 000

Any experience of SAGE or Airport specific applications would be desirable. Windows Server, MS Office, Active Directory, Exchange, Network Support ...

Ged Keogh-Peters
Take stock for tough times
Opinion: Even with falling sales, innovation creates an edge

Simon Levine
Legal Eye: Bogus brands face web crackdown
But who should carry the can?

Tim Ferguson
How did the Heathrow T5 launch go so wrong?
Shiny new terminal, same old story... right?

Julian Goldsmith
Retail leaders will open up in tough times
Rather than cut back, the best will innovate to ride the slump

Penelope Ody
Retail in a rut: IT to the rescue?
Technology needs to meet changing consumer demands...

silicon.com
Online age verification Bill is cynical manipulation
Leader: More about political ambition than protecting children

CIO50 2008
The silicon.com CIO50 2008 profiles the most influential and innovative tech chiefs in the UK across all industries and organisation size, from the biggest FTSE100 companies to high growth dot-com start ups and the public sector. The list was voted on by the UK CIO community and a panel of experts. Find out more in our latest special report.


IT services
Outsourcing, offshoring and much more...



Quick Sitemap Links: