E-passports extended outside Europe

TOURISTS from outside Europe will be allowed to use e-passport gates for the first time to speed up queues at British airports.

Currently only people from within the European Economic Area can use these automated gates, while those from other countries must go to manned kiosks to have their passports checked.

Mr Hammond announced that access to e-passport gates will be extended to visitors from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

The move follows complaints from London Heathrow and airline bosses about ‘unacceptable’ queues at Britain’s busiest airport over the summer, with delays of up to two-and-a-half hours.

Cuts to UK Border Force staff and a surge in the number of people who fly in and out of Britain have contributed to longer delays.

Yesterday Heathrow’s boss, John Holland-Kaye, said many of the airport’s 60 e-passport gates were unused because of the current restrictions.

He added: ‘E-gates offer a world-class immigration process whilst keeping Britain’s border secure.’