13 UK airports launch Amadeus contactless border checks

On 19 October 2026, Amadeus Newsroom announced that the UK has launched contactless border clearance at 13 international airports, using the Amadeus Seamless Gates system. Eligible travellers do not need to scan their passports on entry: the system takes a photo as the traveller approaches the eGate and verifies it against immigration, travel and passport information; once verification passes, the gate opens; only when further checks are needed must the passport be placed down or the case be handled by UK Border Force personnel. East Midlands Airport has already gone live, and all eGates are planned to be upgraded by early 2027. The measure initially targets UK citizens, with a phased expansion to eligible foreign citizens later.