Some passengers using Heathrow’s Terminal 1 will be affected by a newly-introduced security system.
Changes made by the airport’s owners, BAA, mean that biometric information will now be obtained from domestic passengers who want to visit the international lounge before boarding their flights.
It will also be required from anyone arriving on an international flight and looking to transfer to a UK domestic one.
In a statement, BAA explained that the amendments to the security process were intended to allow domestic and international passengers to mix in one departure lounge without the risk of boarding passes being swapped or anyone entering the UK without undergoing the appropriate immigration checks.
The iris scan and fingerprint that the biometric check obtains will be used in addition to the photo ID and boarding pass normally required at the boarding gate, the Associated Press reported.
A spokesperson for BAA also told the website that a similar security system may be used at Heathrow’s new Terminal 5 when it opens at the end of March.
