Contactless eGates are being rolled out at 13 UK airports over the next year, meaning passengers will eventually not have to show their passports when going through security. The Government announced this week that East Midlands Airport will be the first to implement the new system.
How the contactless system works
From Tuesday, October 6, eGates at UK airports will gradually switch to the new contactless technology. Under the system, passengers approach an eGate and have their photo taken. The system checks this live image against verified immigration, travel and passport information, and the eGate opens automatically once checks are complete.
Every eGate is set to be upgraded by early 2027. The technology was successfully trialled for three weeks at Manchester Airport in October last year, according to The Times. The Home Office said passengers typically passed through the gates faster and had a better experience.
Border Force and airport reaction
Phil Douglas, Director General of Border Force, said: "This is a win for travellers coming to our brilliant country. By using state-of-the-art technology, we are making journeys smoother and faster, all while fully maintaining the UK’s robust border security."
Steve Griffiths, Managing Director of East Midlands Airport, said: "We’re delighted to be the first UK airport to have contactless eGates introduced by Border Force. As an airport committed to providing an effortless travel experience, we welcome any technological innovation that can help to safely make our customers’ journeys smoother, swifter and simpler."
Eligibility and full list of airports
Initially, contactless eGates will be limited to British citizens only, but other eGate eligible nationalities will be able to use them in the future. The Government has stressed that passengers will still need to travel with their passport, as they will need it to check in and board the plane.
The 13 UK airports with eGates that will implement the new system are: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted.
