Biometric science arrives at Heathrow

Passengers at Heathrow airport are being invited to take part in a trial of high-tech biometric scanning equipment, which aims to make the travelling process easier by getting people through identity checks faster than ever before.

When people are off to catch a flight, they usually check they've got everything. Passport? Ticket? Bumper Sudoku book? All there. But in future you might also need your fingertips to fly.

Not only vital for tackling the in-flight meal, fingertips - along with irises and facial features - are all being used in biometric measurements that check identity, a trial system of which has just gone live at Heathrow airport.

Initially limited to volunteers amongst passengers flying to Dubai and Hong Kong, the trial will run until the end of January with the potential for expansion should it be deemed a success.

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