Airline passengers departing the US, including those from the UK and Europe, face increased security measures before they board their flights.
The Guardian reports that US government security officials want to fingerprint passengers at check-in upon leaving the country, allowing them to build an extensive database of travellers’ information.
Michael Jackson, deputy secretary of the US department of homeland security, said: “We will need biometric as well as biographical data.”
Airline representatives have warned that the new measures could test the patience of passengers who already face stringent security checks, including a restriction on the types of liquids allowed in the cabin.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said that check-in staff were not security personnel and that finger printing passengers could cause long delays.
