BA rolls out facial scans to speed up boarding

BRITISH AIRWAYS is introducing technology that will allow passengers to go through boarding gates at Heathrow using facial recognition.

Biometric devices in Terminal 5 will capture a traveller’s features along with the boarding pass, and then a facial scan at the gate verifies the person’s identity, allowing them to get on the plane without showing documents, BA said in a letter to staff.

The system is designed to speed up boarding and reduce errors, it said.

Three gates are now using the equipment, with another 33 planned in the coming months. The system will be used initially only for domestic routes, before being extended to international flights.

BA already operates self-service luggage check-in desks at both Heathrow and Gatwick as part of moves to improve the passenger experience.