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E-passports tested at LAX and Sydney

(23 Sep 2005)

Going on holiday? – Get a great deal on travel insurance

Testing of the first e-passports has been completed at two major international airports, and could pave the way for smoother, quicker transfers.

Australia's Sydney Airport and three terminals at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) started running tests three months ago, completing the pilot on September 15th.

E-passports contain computer chips with biographic and biometric information of the holder.

Volunteers participating in the test included airline crew and officials of United Airlines, Air New Zealand and Qantas Airlines. The biometric e-passports were presented upon arrival in the United States through LAX, or when entering Australia in Sydney.

"This live test of e-passports is an important step forward in a larger effort to enhance security and facilitate travel through international cooperation," said Jim Williams, director of the department of homeland security programme US-VISIT.

The Californian city Los Angeles was an apt location for the trial, and is well known for its "bigger, better, faster, more" attitude. The metropolis is actually a conglomeration of 88 districts with no discernable centre. The hub of tourism can be found west of Downtown LA.

Star-struck tourists can experience all the glitz and glamour of the American dream in Hollywood in the northwest.

A walk down Hollywood Boulevard takes you past the handprints of legends on the sidewalk outside Mann's Chinese Theatre. Meanwhile east of the Boulevard lie the famous bronze stars awarded to stars like Nicole Kidman, John Lennon and Lassie.


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