Manchester Airport trials new security measures

Passengers at Manchester Airport are among those taking part in a trial-run of new identity aimed at improving airline security, it has been reported.

Thousands of people flying to destinations such as Ibiza and Malta are undergoing the new procedures in which their faces are scanned and passports are checked automatically by one of 11 walk-in machines.

In addition to boosting security at UK airports, it is hoped the new system will reduce passenger congestion.

While the machines take between 13 and 15 seconds to process a passenger, a human takes an average of 20 seconds.

The machines take a photograph of individual passengers and matches it up to picture contained in their travel documents.

A UK Border Agency spokesperson commented: "The UK is undergoing the biggest shake-up in its borders for nearly 40 years, Britain's border security is now among the toughest in the world."

Posted by Clare, 19 August 2008 16:09

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