Labour MP Liam Byrne has backed the study, saying that biometric technology will play a fundamental part in making travel easier for ‘good travellers’.
The miSense self-service trial at Europe’s busiest airport was conducted over a sixteen-week period in an effort to understand how the technology could simplify journeys.
Passengers flying with Emirates and Cathay Pacific were asked if they would like to participate and if they agreed, a full scan of the photo page of their passport was taken at check-in, along with a fingerprint. This data was then used to access the security screening area of the airport through a physical barrier with anti-tailgating technology. A final fingerprint check at the plane allowed passengers to continue with their journey.
A second, more rigorous trial involved passengers submitting ten fingerprints, both irises and a scan of their face. Subjected to extensive background checks, travellers were then issued with an RFID card which they could use with a successful fingerprint verification to gain entry to the departure lounge.
The technology was developed by a consortium of organisations including BAA, the Border & Immigration Agency, Sagem, and SITA. Each organisation is said to have funded their respective elements of the trial including materials, equipment and man-hours.
Using nCipher (LSE: NCH) encryption and database security technology, the systems hope to comply with data protection laws and enable real-time interaction between airline and government systems.
The processes have been hailed as a ‘great success’ by BAA Heathrow’s CEO Tony Douglas, who believes that the number of people voluntarily taking part demonstrates that passengers are willing and able to use self-service biometric access controls.
According to the company’s own research, 87% of participants said that it was easy or very easy to provide their details, with 72% saying that the biggest benefit was faster journey times. However, the miSense team admitted that “the benefits of a joined up international trial were not fully realised due to a series of time consuming legal issues and competing priorities with the other International Regional Groups”.
Byrne, the Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality said: “To strengthen our borders in the years to come, we need Government, international partnership and industry to work together.”
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