The federal government will introduce biometric ID cards for workers at 29 major airports by the end of the year, Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon said Friday.

The cards are aimed at improving airport security by allowing scanners to check two unique human characteristics — fingerprints and iris patterns.

The government is moving on a two-year-old test, which began operational trials at airports in Vancouver and Kelowna, B.C., in October 2004.

The airports that will be using the cards are: Calgary International; Charlottetown; Edmonton International; Fredericton; Gander International; Halifax International; Iqaluit; Kelowna International; London International; Moncton International; Montreal, Pierre Elliott Trudeau International and Mirabel International; Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International; Prince George; Quebec City, Jean Lesage International; Regina; Saint John; St. John's International; Saskatoon, John G. Diefenbaker International; Greater Sudbury; Thunder Bay International; Toronto, City Centre and Lester B. Pearson International; Vancouver International; Victoria International; Whitehorse; Windsor, Ont.; Winnipeg International; Yellowknife.

The biometric card, called the Restricted Area Identity Card, uses fingerprints and iris patterns to identify 120,000 workers, including flight crews, refuellers and caterers, who have access to restricted areas at the country's major airports.

It's the world's first dual biometric airport ID system, but access to restricted areas will only require a check of only one of the two characteristics, the government said in a release.

The card has a small computer chip, which stores two kinds of biometric data, fingerprint and iris templates.

When a worker approaches a restricted area at one of the 29 airports, a biometric reader will scan the individual and the card.

The reader then does three things:

• Compares the information people present through their irises or fingerprints with the data on the card, to ensure the person is the cardholder.
• Confirms the government has issued a security clearance to the cardholder.
• Confirms the airport administration has given the cardholder access to the particular restricted area.

Airport workers who get cards will still be subject to random screening and background security checks, the government said.

Biometric readers will scan information of airport employees.
(Ric Feld/Associated Press)

The airport administrations will issue cards and decide which workers can go where.

The proposed amendments to the Canadian Aviation Security Regulations will be published Saturday, starting a 15-day period for comments.

The government hopes to issue the cards by Dec. 31.