First came fingerprinting on the way into America. Now comes fingerprinting on the way out. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has sparked fresh outrage by ordering airlines and cruise lines to collect the digital fingerprints of all foreigners before they leave the country. Critics have warned that the new security initiative will lead to worldwide airline chaos.

More than 33m travellers will be fingerprinted annually as part of the “air-exit program”, and DHS chief Michael Chertoff says he is just doing his job. “The 9/11 Commission called for biometric entry and exit records, because biometrics confirm that travellers are who they say they are and that the purpose of their travel is as they claim it to be,” he said, arguing that objections to the ruling were based on commercial concerns.

The International Air Transport Association (Iata), which represents the airlines, says otherwise, warning that fingerprinting every departing passenger - at check-in, at airside kiosks or at departure gates - will lead to “delayed departures and missed connections around the world”.

“It’s incredibly ill-conceived,” said Paul Charles, of Virgin Atlantic. “Our check-in staff aren’t immigration officers, and they’re not trained to decide whether or not someone should be allowed to leave the country. The scheme is going to cause horrendous delays, but if the US government wants American airports to become like Terminal 5, this will do it.”

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