Heathrow T5 technology 'will benefit passengers'

New baggage screening technology at the new Terminal 5 in Heathrow Airport should help to minimise queues and boost security, it has been claimed.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, BAA chief executive Stephen Nelson said that the technology captures more cabin baggage images in a quicker way than the processes currently used.

He added that the airport has done much to try to reduce queues in recent months, such as hiring more staff and adding more security lanes.

"Technology such as this will also help us make sure these queues are as small as possible," Mr Nelson explained.

The comments came as BAA noted that the new terminal will be open in six months' time and announced that it has recruited some 15,000 passengers to test systems such as car parking, check-in, baggage handling and security ahead of the grand opening in March 2008.

Construction work on the development, which is the largest freestanding building in the UK, first started in 2002.

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