We face ‘national embarrassment’ over airport chaos

TRAVEL chiefs warned last night that Britain faces a ‘national embarrassment’ this summer if ministers fail to boost border resources in time for the re-start of foreign holidays.

The boss of Heathrow Airport revealed passport control sometimes has only two out of two dozen desks manned, meaning passengers have been forced to wait on board planes until queues of up to seven hours have dissipated.

With electronic passport gates not set to fully re-open until autumn, the industry chiefs said Home Secretary Priti Patel must boost border guard numbers within weeks.

Failure to do so would also hit the post-pandemic economic recovery, they warned. The earliest date international travel can resume is May 17.

Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye said he has written to Miss Patel’s officials several times but that no action has been taken.

He told the Mail: ‘It really would be a national embarrassment for the Government to have their lack of organisation of immigration grind the UK’s biggest port to a halt ... The Home Office needs to get a grip of this.’

British Airways boss Sean Doyle said: ‘We are urgently seeking reassurance from Border Force that they are committing the appropriate levels of resource and using contactless technology, which includes opening the e-gates to ensure frictionless travel.’

Steve Heapy, chief executive of package holiday giant Jet2, said: ‘We have to press the Government to make sure there is reassurance Border Force will be operating as normally as possible. We will be operating normally so why wouldn’t Border Force?

‘We have to make sure this is pretty frictionless because if it is not it could massively stall the recovery. It will hamper not only the recovery of the [travel] sector but also the recovery of the country.’ He added: ‘ The last thing people want is to experience a five or six-hour queue. Can you imagine landing with kids and facing that? It is a parent’s worst nightmare.’

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said: ‘ It think it’s important the UK Government recognise ... they have a responsibility to make this work, otherwise it’s not a re-opening.’

Currently Border Force guards are manually checking locator forms, which passengers must fill in before flying. They also check for proof of a negative Covid test, that arrivals have booked a testing or hotel quarantine package and that they’ve stated the address where they intend to self-isolate.

Border Force sources said it can take up to 30 minutes to fill out paperwork if arrivals have not complied with the rules.

Yesterday in the Commons, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps pledged to automise the process so e-gates can reopen. However, a report said this month that such a system would not be in place in all airports until the autumn.

OUR international airports are a vital component of Britain’s post-pandemic economic recovery.

But millions of holidaymakers, freespending foreign tourists and business travellers will scrap trips if they fear mayhem. Passengers, a fraction of usual numbers, already suffer seven-hour delays as passport officers meticulously check Covid documents.

Picture the potential for anarchy when ministers permit holidays. Images of snaking queues and weary arrivals sleeping on floors would be a national humiliation – another blow to aviation and tourism.

Airport chiefs have pressed the Home Secretary for urgent measures including more border guards – to no avail. If chaos ensues, she can’t say she wasn’t warned.