Iris scanning coming next week?
London’s Heathrow airport will next week introduce a long-awaited iris recognition system that could boost security and speed up passport control.
As reported by News From Abroad, the passport and personal database of volunteer, non-EU travellers will be stored on a database run by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; when they arrive at the airport, they will look into an iris scanner at the immigration gate.
The new system is expected to reduce queuing time for many travellers arriving at the airport.
Today, media outlets around the world – but not those in the UK, interestingly – are quoting the Home Office as saying that Project Iris will be launched next week, at Heathrow’s terminals 2 and 4, before being rolled out around the country.
The signonsandiego.com website, the online presence of the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, quotes a Home Office spokesman as saying: “It is expected that, within five years, more than a million people will be registered to use the system.”
The website points out that, while one million represents just the tip of the metaphorical iceberg of the UK’s 90 million annual visitors, the move is the “first step to easing the burden on immigration officers”.
At the time of going to press, the Home Office was not able to comment on the story.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd www.newsfromabroad.com
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive