Emirates to open biometric services for all travellers at Dubai airport
Emirates airline has said that it will be opening its biometric services at Terminal 3 of Dubai International airport (DXB) to all international passengers. The service was previously only available for residents of the UAE and GCC nationals. Facial recognition technology coupled with AI will aid their access to lounges and through the boarding and immigration processes and will also be linked to their passport for instant identity verification. International passengers will be able to access this service starting 2023 by providing official consent through the Emirates app, at Emirates self-check-in kiosks, or in person at Emirates check-in desks.
British Airways trials biometric technology for international flights
British Airways is trialling biometric technology for international flights, enabling customers to travel abroad without having to show their passport. The trial will run for six months on BA flights from London Heathrow Terminal 5 to Malaga in Spain. Select customers will receive an email three days before their flight with a link to scan their face, passport and boarding pass via a smartphone or tablet ahead of travel.
Heathrow’s Christmas plans “will not require any capacity cap”
Heathrow says it is ready for its “biggest Christmas in three years”, as the airport gears up for the festive peak season. The London hub has had a testing 2022, with the ramp up in passengers following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions leading to delays and cancellations. The airport imposed a capacity cap over the summer, which was only removed at the end of October, and last month Heathrow warned that the threat of restrictions over the Christmas period remained.
Rail workers give ‘mandate’ for more UK strikes
Rail workers in the UK have voted to give the RMT union a new “mandate” to hold further strikes over the next six months. Members of the RMT union have already walked out for eight days this year in an ongoing dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions with Network Rail and 14 train operating companies.
Travel news as a glance:
- British Airways returns to Tokyo
- Austrian launches economy pre-order service on short and medium-haul flights
- British Airways to launch Heathrow-Cincinnati route in Jun 23
- The Hoxton to offer free bike hire to London hotel guests
- Eastern Airways to launch East Midlands-Newquay route in Feb 23High-speed rail operator Iryo prepares to launch in Spain from 25 Nov 22
- Doha’s Hamad International completes first phase of airport revamp
- ITA Airways to expand network in 2023 amid new privatisation talks
- JetBlue to add New York-Paris service
- Etihad completes first net-zero flight using SAF book-and-claim