Advertisement
UK markets closed
  • FTSE 100

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,884.73
    +74.07 (+0.37%)
     
  • AIM

    743.26
    +1.15 (+0.15%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1709
    +0.0016 (+0.13%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2621
    -0.0001 (-0.01%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    55,764.97
    +49.61 (+0.09%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,254.35
    +5.86 (+0.11%)
     
  • DOW

    39,807.37
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    83.11
    -0.06 (-0.07%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,254.80
    +16.40 (+0.73%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,369.44
    +201.37 (+0.50%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • DAX

    18,492.49
    +15.40 (+0.08%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,205.81
    +1.00 (+0.01%)
     

Heathrow Airport could divert planes to other UK or EU airports to deal with border queues

<p>Heathrow is already facing border queues</p> (PA Archive)

Heathrow is already facing border queues

(PA Archive)

Heathrow Airport could divert planes to other UK or European airports if border queues become too long.

The airport has already seen queues up to six hours long as result of increased checks and paperwork for UK arrivals, the BBC reported.

The airport previously warned passengers that they could be held on their planes while the checks are processed.

To prevent this from happening, the airport wants more staff at border control, and an automated passenger locator form.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "Instead of telling passengers to brace themselves for a long wait in immigration queues, Border Force should step up its efforts to automate checks for green list countries, and put in place additional resource for passengers where manual checks might be needed.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Accepting delays is a further demonstration of complacency from them on the matter.

"There are protocols in place to hold passengers on planes or divert them to other airports, to prevent excessive, unnecessary and completely avoidable queues in immigration halls."

The Home Office said that protecting public health is a ‘priority’PA Wire
The Home Office said that protecting public health is a ‘priority’PA Wire

The Home Office said that protecting public health is a "priority".

They added that wait times are likely to be longer while the UK maintains 100 per cent helth checks at the border, but they will do all they can to "smooth" the process.

Read More

On the Beach suspends sales of summer holidays amid travel uncertainty

Lawyer fined £5,000 for leaking Heathrow expansion ruling

British Museum experts help return rare smuggled sculpture to Libya