Manchester to use biometric security

Manchester Airport is to tighten its security setup with the introduction of iris recognition systems.

The new technology, which is part of a drive to regulate staff access to restricted areas of the airport, will be installed and fully operational by summer 2008.

By this time, all staff working at the north-west hub will be enrolled in the new biometric system.

The decision to launch the security scheme follows a trial carried out at one of the airport's service yards, where an iris recognition camera was used to photograph the eyes of everyone passing through and compare the shot with a database of previously recorded images.

Asha Williams, security and training manager at Manchester Airport, said: "The trial of the technology has gone really well and we are now extending [it] to include two new areas of access to the restricted zone.

"We're always looking for new ways to simplify and further improve the robust security screening process of both passengers and staff and by harnessing this clever technology we can achieve both those goals."

Manchester will be the first airport in the UK to use iris recognition technology for staff access.