News: New security measures to be introduced at Heathrow terminal 5
Flights > News > # 1722 (14/03/2008)
British passengers using the new Terminal 5 building will be fingerprinted and photographed before they board flights.
According to reports, the biometric checks will apply to all domestic passengers when the terminal opens later this month.
Passengers will be photographed at check-in and then asked to give four fingerprints on a pad - a process that will then be repeated before boarding a flight.
This is to ensure that those arriving on international flights or in transit to another country cannot swap boarding passes with a domestic passenger who has already checked in.
Airport operator BAA said that the heightened security measures were necessary to prevent criminals, terrorists and illegal immigrants attempting to evade border controls.
They added that the information would be destroyed within 24 hours.
Terminal 5 opens on March 27 and will serve an estimated four million passengers per year flying with British Airways.
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