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 15 May 2008 13:05 BST

Last-minute BAA backs down over Terminal 5 fingerprint row

Wednesday, 26 Mar 2008 19:52
The new terminal will begin by using photographic identification
Airports operator BAA says it has suspended plans to fingerprint passengers using the newly-finished Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow airport.

The $4.3 billion terminal is due to open to the flying public tomorrow and the row with the information commissioner's office threatens to overshadow the expanded capacity the opening will create.

According to reports the information commissioner is concerned the plans to fingerprint passengers at check-in and boarding gates may prove illegal under data protection laws.

BAA insists the measure is necessary to protect against terrorists who seek to board flights in transit and says data is destroyed within 24 hours, in line with the Data Protection Act.

Concerns remain, however, and the BBC reports talks are ongoing between BAA and the information commissioner's office over the fingerprinting proposals.

In the interim period photographic identification procedures already in use will be used, BAA said in a statement.

It has previously warned it may take some time for the new proposals at Terminal 5 to "bed down".

The terminal is for British Airways (BA) flights only and features a common departure area for domestic and international flights.

"It has been agreed that, pending the outcome of a review, domestic customers flying from T5 to Manchester, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh will not have to provide their fingerprints," a statement on BA's website said.

"They will now have their photograph taken and matched at the boarding gate. These processes are agreed by the Border and Immigration Agency and BAA and we continue to be guided by the processes that they decide need to be implemented."End of story

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