13 May 2009

Stansted urges passengers to use new gates

London Stansted has encouraged its passengers returning to the UK to make use of the facial recognition gates that are currently being trialled at the airport.

Holders of passports with an electronic chip can use the automated gates, which scan passengers' faces and compare the image with their passport photo.

Some 160,000 people have used the machines since the trial began at Stansted in December.

There are plans to extend the technology to ten more UK terminals this August as the government attempts to strengthen border security while cutting waiting times for travellers.

Barry McGill, assistant director for the UK Border Agency at Stansted, said: 'My message to passengers travelling through Stansted is simple. If you hold one of the new biometric passports, please take advantage of these gates and help to reduce the time you spend at passport control.

'You don't need to register. All you need is a biometric passport issued since 2006.'

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