Former Home Secretary, Lord David Blunkett claims that he, along with “tens of thousands” of other blind individuals in the UK, are unable to utilise eGates at airports and ports.
Lord Blunkett, who has been blind since birth, shared with attendees at TTG’s Fairer Travel Diversity Forum on Monday (8 July) that due to his flickering eyelids, the facial recognition technology in the UK’s eGates struggles to verify his identity against his passport photo.
He said: “Even when I am looking directly into the camera, I am unable to use the eGates. We need to integrate everything together.”
Lord Blunkett has urged airlines, airports, and Border Force to collaborate in enhancing the passenger experience, emphasising the importance of integrating assistance from the moment a passenger arrives at the desk, especially for those with accessibility or neurodivergent needs. Training staff to accommodate these passengers is crucial to ensuring a seamless system.
Blunkett stressed the significance of airlines fully embracing these changes, as it can significantly impact their overall performance rather than being seen as an optional extra.
The UK government website states that there are over 270 eGates operational at 15 air and rail ports in the UK to facilitate quicker entry into the country.
