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Biometrics open up Heathrow Terminal One
Domestic fliers rub shoulders with international passengers

By Nick Heath

Published: Friday 08 February 2008

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.