London's Heathrow Airport has launched a pilot test scheme to allow passengers to pre-book security slots.

Europe’s busiest hub, the Heathrow Airport in London has launched a trial allowing passengers to pre-book security slots ahead of their journeys.

In a press statement, the airport operator says that Heathrow Timeslot is a free service which will give passengers a designated time and entry point to the security search area, ensuring peace of mind when travelling, as well as helping reduce queue times for all passengers by allowing colleagues to plan resources more effectively.

The trial will be live in Terminal 3 for up to six months and initially be open to passengers travelling with four airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic. Further airlines may be added during the trial. The outcomes of the trial will inform any future extension or roll-out to other terminals, it says.

This is the latest move from the airport to enhance passenger experience. Heathrow says it’s passengers have consistently passed through security in less than 5 minutes over the summer and passenger satisfaction was higher than pre-pandemic levels, reflecting the investment the airport, airlines and their ground handlers have made in recruiting and training over 25,000 new colleagues in the last two years.

“Everyone is familiar with airport security, but at Heathrow we’re constantly thinking of innovative ways to boost the safety and streamline the experience for our passengers. This new trial will give passengers that extra added bit of certainty and reassurance ahead of their journey and we think it will be particularly popular for those with families or nervous travellers who may want a bit more confidence in their journeys. We look forward to seeing the data come in to give us some learnings on how we can roll this out more widely across Heathrow,” says Mark Powell, Operational Planning Director at Heathrow.