Contactless facial‑recognition eGates start at East Midlands Airport on 6 Oct 2026
Written by AI from 2 reports listed below. Not checked by a person before publication. How we use AI
The phased rollout of a contactless eGate system using facial recognition began at East Midlands Airport on 6 October 2026, with Birmingham Airport also among the first sites, and is expected to be in place at all eligible UK airports by early 2027.
The technology was successfully trialled for three weeks at Manchester Airport in October last year, and testing showed it can process passengers up to 25 percent faster than the existing passport‑scanning method; Border Force director general Phil Douglass said the system will free up staff to tackle other issues, while Indian passport holders remain ineligible and must follow current procedures.