Gatwick Airport to implement facial scanners

Facial recognition technology is set to be rolled out at eight departure gates at Gatwick after a successful trial with easyJet.

More than 20,000 passengers have already used the technology as part of that trial last year, with the airport claiming that more than 90 per cent of people interviewed by airport staff said it sped up boarding and was easy to use.

Instead of humans checking passports and boarding passes, the technology scans passengers' faces and compares it to the picture on their passports, and the name on their boarding pass, both of which are also scanned.

Following the trial, the plan is to roll the technology out at eight departure gates in the North Terminal by 2022, when an extension to Pier 6 will be open.

An airport spokesman said: "Gatwick is now collating all the data in order to further develop and optimise the technological solution with a view to rolling out auto-boarding technology on eight departure gates in the North Terminal when it opens a new extension to its Pier 6 departure facility in 2022.

"One of the major benefits for passengers will be the open gate-room concept that Gatwick will be able to enable with this technology. This will allow passengers to spend more time enjoying the shops or having a last-minute coffee before boarding their flight."

Heathrow airport is expected to announce similar plans before the end of this year, as executives are understood to be in advanced talks to roll out technology permanently after a £50 million trial this summer.