Amadeus is supporting the United Kingdom’s rollout of contactless biometric border controls at 13 international airports under a long-term contract with the Home Office and UK Border Force. The Amadeus Seamless Gates system allows eligible passengers to approach an eGate for facial verification without routinely scanning their passports, while retaining manual procedures for travellers requiring additional checks.
The phased deployment began with British citizens at East Midlands Airport on 6 October. Eligible foreign nationals will be added progressively, and the upgrade of all eGates is expected to be completed by early 2027. The system uses a camera to capture a passenger’s image and compares it with verified immigration, travel and passport information. Successful checks open the gate automatically; passengers needing further verification must use the passport reader or speak to a Border Force officer.
The participating airports are Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted. The technology is being integrated into existing eGates rather than requiring their complete replacement. Border Force officers will continue monitoring the gates, and travellers must still carry their passports for airline procedures, boarding and any additional border checks.