Frankfurt Airport To Begin Iris-Scan ID

Frankfurt Airport To Begin Iris-Scan ID
Travel Channel


Feb. 12, 2004 — German Interior Minister Otto Schily
inaugurated on Thursday new iris-scan identity
machines at Frankfurt airport, Germany's biggest,
before they begin a testing phase this weekend. 

The biometric checks will be put in place from
Saturday for passengers to use on a voluntary basis
for the next six months, the interior ministry said in
a statement.

"Biometrics not only makes the trip safer, it also
makes it easier," Schily said.

The iris-scan examines features in the colored ring of
tissue in the eye, which is unique to each person. It
uses a camera-like mechanism and requires no contact
between the eye and machine and can even work when
people are wearing glasses.

The system is particularly helpful for people who
travel regularly. Once their biometric details have
been recorded, they can cross border security points
more rapidly, needing only to look into a camera, the
statement said.

The European Commission — the European Union's
executive arm — is expected in the coming months to
propose integrating biometric measurements into
European Union passports. 



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