Scandinavian airline first to use fingerprint scans

Fingerprint scans have been put in place by the Scandinavian airline SAS this week in the world's first biometric security checks for holidaymakers.

Holidaymakers flying from Lulea in Sweden will have their index finger scanned and recorded when they check baggage in, with a second scan carried out at the departure gate that confirms the passenger checking in is the same one boarding the plane.

The detailed identification information is held in the airline's passenger register. SAS have assured passengers that all information is deleted once the customer’s journey is completed.

"SAS is dedicated to ensuring that air travel is efficient and biometric security saves time for both our customers and SAS," said Susanne Dahlberg, of SAS Sweden.

The new security checks will undergo a four-week trial in Lulea, and if they prove to be a success, will be introduced across Sweden's Stockholm and Gothenburg airports during autumn 2006, eventually putting the technology in place in Denmark and Norway.

The airline states: "At present the use of biometric scans is voluntary and passengers can opt to use traditional identification documents at the baggage check and when boarding."

SAS currently flies to 146 destinations worldwide including Scandinavia, China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the US.