British Airways has launched new self-service boarding gates at Heathrow Airport to provide an easier, smoother boarding process for passengers.
The airline is the first in the UK to introduce automated biometric technology throughout the airport.
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Introduced after a successful trial conducted in June 2016, the airline has currently opened its first three self-service boarding gates for UK domestic flights departing from Heathrow Terminal V.
To date, more than 4,000 passengers have benefitted from the new service.
The self-service boarding gates allow passengers to scan their boarding pass at the gate and walk through to board their flight directly, ensuring a smoother and safer journey through the airport.
With an aim to introduce the automated biometric technology on international flights in the future, British Airways will open three additional boarding gates at each domestic departure stand at Heathrow Airport each week until the middle of June.
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By GlobalDataThe opening of the new self-service boarding gates is part of a wider investment into new technology that will help the airline improve customer experiences during their time at the airport.
In addition, British Airways has opened self-service bag drop points at London’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports, and aims to offer an improved, streamlined connections area at Heathrow Terminal V later this year.
British Airways Customer Experience director Troy Warfield said: “Our customers have told us that they want the ability to simplify and speed up their journeys through the airport.
“The additions of self-boarding gates, along with self-serve bag drop points, are just two of the ways in which we are investing in areas our customers value most.”
Image: British Airways’ self-service boarding gates at Heathrow Terminal V. Photo: courtesy of British Airways.
