The UK's Gatwick Airport has confirmed plans to become the first British airport to permanently use facial recognition technology.Gatwick Airport confirmed that following a self-boarding trial last year, facial-recognition will be used on a permanent basis for ID checks before passengers are allowed to board. According to a Gatwick Airport spokesperson, “More than 90% of those interviewed said they found the technology extremely easy to use and the trial demonstrated faster boarding of the aircraft for the airline and a significant reduction in queue time for passengers.”Gatwick [is now planning] a second trial in the next six months and then rolling out auto-boarding technology on 8 departure gates in the North Terminal when it opens a new extension to its Pier 6 departure facility in 2022.”Passengers will still need to pass through the bag-check security zone, at which point they will need to present a boarding pass as well as scan their passport at the departure gate so the system can match the photo inside to their actual face.
Gatwick becomes first UK airport to use facial recognition
