British Airways WILL Be Passport Free Travel Trials From Heathrow Airport

Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport, London, England. (Wikimedia Commons/eGuide Travel)

JAKARTA - British Airways will be the first British airline to use smart technology, allowing passengers to travel abroad without using their passports at the time of departure.

The company has outlined its plans to pilot biometric technology, for international flights from Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport, London.

In what is described as the first in the UK, passengers will be invited to scan their faces, passports and boarding passes on their smartphones or tablets before flying.

When test participants arrive at the airport, the Smart Bio-Pod cameras will verify their identities in less than three seconds, allowing them to keep their passports in their pockets until they reach their destination.

British Airways Operations Transformation Manager David Breeze said this is the first time passengers have been able to record their biometric information at home.

"Not only this is the first time our customers have been able to register their biometric information at home, but this is also the first time they have been able to use it for British Airways international flights," he told The National News November 15.

He further said the technology would allow a "smarter and smoother airport experience" that would reduce the time it would take to get on the plane.

"The beauty of this technology is that it also frees our people to handle more complicated customer questions, provides the best customer service possible", he said.

The trial will last for six months on British Airways flights to Malaga, Spain.

British Airways has promised that passenger details will be stored safely and those who choose will enjoy Fast-Track security lines and boarding priorities.

If the trial is successful, it is expected to be expanded to more international flights from the airport.

British Airways became the first British airline to use automated biometric technology on domestic flights in 2017, recording a customer's face scan with security and matching it at the departure gate.