Denver to intro biometric airport security checks

Fast Lane Option Card shown off at conference.

Denver in Colorado will become one of the first areas to trial biometric identification for travellers.

The Fast Lane Option Alliance, an industry group that includes Saflink Corporation, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, Johnson Controls, Smiths Detection and ID Technology Partners, has announced that it will be providing free FLO Card enrolments to 150 attendees of the Aurora Economic Development Council A-List event in Denver.

The FLO Card is a secure biometric credential intended for use by participants in the Transportation Security Administration's Registered Traveller program.

Glenn Argenbright, chief executive at Saflink, said: "Frequent business travellers can benefit tremendously from the added convenience and streamlined security promised by the Regular Traveller program and, in particular, the FLO Card."

The Registered Traveller programme will allow individuals to take advantage of expedited security screening procedures at participating US airports.

The participants must undergo an in-depth background check, provide biometric information such as a fingerprint or iris scan and pay an annual fee.

Participants will be able to use specially designated, privately managed Registered Traveller lanes, where they will be required to present and match an approved biometrically secured identity credential, such as the FLO Card.

Travellers who apply for and receive a FLO Card will be able to use it in any airport that deploys Registered Traveller lanes.

Denver International is one of a number of airports currently evaluating several private vendors, including the FLO Alliance, to install and manage the lanes pending final approval by the Transportation Security Administration.

As interoperability is a key mandate of the program, FLO Card holders will be able to use their cards in any Registered Traveller lane managed by any vendor.

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