Heathrow airport will trial thermal imaging facial recognition cameras, ultra-violet sanitation and contactless security measures in bid cameras to spot passengers carrying coronavirus
- The measure will be part of a trial and data as to its effectiveness will be shared with the Government
- Heathrow CEO, John Holland-Kaye, informed the House of Commons of the developments today
- Could lead to creation of a Common International Standard for health screening
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Thermal imaging cameras are to be used at Heathrow to check passengers for coronavirus.
The cameras will be used as part of a trial at the airport which is also looking to introduce contactless security measures and UV sanitation to ensure travellers are safe.
Data from the trials, and whether the measures prove medical effective, will be shared with Government and industry and could lead to the creation of a Common International Standard for health screening.
Heathrow CEO, John Holland-Kaye informed the House of Commons Transport Committee today that the airport is to trial technologies
The screening tests will be introduced in the next two weeks at Terminal 2 and include facial recognition thermal screening technology which accurately tracks body temperature.
The temperature screening technology involves using a camera detection system to monitor the temperatures of passengers.
At the outset it will be used in the airport’s immigration halls. If deemed successful the technology would then be used elsewhere in the airport.
UV sanitation would be used to sanitise security trays while contact-free security screening equipment would mean a reduction in person-to-person contact.
Heathrow CEO, John Holland-Kaye, said the government needing to help restart aviation which he described as ‘the cornerstone of the UK economy.’
Mr Holland-Kaye informed the House of Commons Transport Committee today that the airport is to trial technologies which could form the basis of a Common International Standard for health screening at airports across the world in a bid to reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting the coronavirus while travelling.
His appearance before the committee follows his requests to the Government for Heathrow to lead the global implementation of a Common International Standard in a bid to restore confidence in travel and increase passenger safety as countries prepare to ease their respective lockdowns.
A closed Terminal at Heathrow Airport. The screening tests will be introduced in the next two weeks at Terminal 2 and include facial recognition thermal screening technology which accurately tracks body temperature.
‘The UK has the world’s third largest aviation sector offering the platform for the Government to take a lead in agreeing a Common International Standard for aviation health with our main trading partners.
‘This Standard is key to minimising transmission of Covid-19 across borders, and the technology we are trialling at Heathrow could be part of the solution,’ he said.
The airport is already required to carry out temperature checks by some other countries.