Eye scans to speed air travel

LONDON, England -- A revolutionary eye-scanning technique aimed at speeding passengers through customs and immigration control is to go on trial at Europe's biggest airport this autumn.

It could mean passengers need never wait in immigration queues, or have to remember their passports and visas.

Each person has a pattern in their iris as distinct as their fingerprint.

The procedure takes less than a few seconds using a camera two feet away. It can be fully computerised with voice prompts and auto focus.

The new technology will be tested out on around 2,000 North American passengers who frequently use British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights into London's Heathrow airport.

If successful, the US-pioneered technique could be extended at Heathrow and at other British and European airports.

The new format involves training a video camera onto the iris of the eye of a traveller.

Each person's distinct iris pattern can be tallied with a passport number and also with airport and airline check-in computer details.

"We certainly hope the new technology will make things speedier and simpler for travellers," said a Heathrow airport spokeswoman.

In a statement, British Airways said: "The system will enable passengers who have been enrolled and pre-cleared by the UK Immigration Service simply to look into a video camera when arriving at Heathrow's passport control and, in less than two seconds, have their identity verified and their admission to the UK granted based solely on their iris pattern and real time verification of their status."

The new procedure has been developed by American company Eyeticket Corporation and is already being tested out at Charlotte airport in North Carolina, U.S.

Hans Shrieber, Senior Vice-President of Eye Ticket Corporation, said that close to 500,000 travellers had used the scanners without an incorrect reading since his firm installed them in May last year.

But the Heathrow test, which will start in October, will be more sophisticated than the American one in that it will also involve immigration and ticketing.

Thomas Windmuller, Director of International the Air Transport Association's Simplifying Passenger Travel group, said: "I expect we will see other trials launched at major airports throughout the world.

"These trials will demonstrate that it is indeed possible to streamline passenger processing, reduce waiting times and significantly enhance the travel experience."