Airport delays: Latest from Heathrow and Gatwick as e-passport gates fail on Bank Holiday Saturday
UK: System failure at British Airways causes chaos at Heathrow Airport
Passengers are threatened with travel chaos because the electronic passport locks no longer work at British airports.
The issue is likely to cause lengthy delays at passport controls for holiday travelers entering the country as all airports using the gates are affected.
The Home Office has confirmed the news after the system went down on Friday night – but has not said how long the fault would last.
One passenger described the scene at Edinburgh Airport as “a mess” and told of a queue of over 300 people at passport control on Friday night.
Another spoke of “total chaos” at Gatwick Airport passport control, with “queues of over an hour” caused by the demolition of the electronic passport gates.
A Home Office spokesman said: “We are aware of a nationwide issue with the border system affecting arrivals in the UK.
“We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and are working with port operators and airlines to minimize disruption to travelers.”
This comes after thousands of people found their bank holiday plans thrown into chaos as an IT outage forced British Airways to cancel numerous flights on Thursday and Friday.
Travel chaos precedes Gatwick Express strikes
Travel chaos at airports across the UK, including Gatwick, precedes next week’s Gatwick Express strikes.
There will be no Gatwick Express trains on 31 May and 3 June, while there will be a changed timetable on 1 June and reduced service on 2 June.
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 5:47 p.m
Queues at Gatwick Airport
Passengers are queuing at Gatwick Airport as electronic passport gates are down across the UK
(Getty Images)
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 5:09 p.m
“Scenes of Total Chaos”
One traveler arriving at Heathrow reported “scenes of utter chaos” while another described the situation at Gatwick as “a complete joke”.
One passenger tweeted: “Just landed in scene of utter chaos. Two hour long queues just to get to the real queue. Gates broken.”
While another called the Gatwick situation a “complete joke”.
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 4:28 p.m
Passenger says passport control was “incredible” and “stiflingly hot”.
“Incredible” and “sweltering hot” is how one passenger described his experience at Gatwick Airport’s passport control in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Chris O’Hara added, “Welcome to modern Britain.”
He wrote on social media: “2am passport control at Gatwick North Terminal. Unbelievable. Welcome to modern Britain.
“And of course the air conditioning is off, so it’s stiflingly hot.”
“Incredible” and “sweltering hot” is how one passenger described his experience at Gatwick Airport’s passport control in the early hours of Saturday morning
(Chris O’Hara)
Passengers are threatened with travel chaos because the electronic passport locks no longer work at British airports
(Chris O’Hara)
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 3:47 p.m
It is estimated that up to 19.2 million car journeys are made on public holidays
The RAC estimates motorists across the UK will make 19.2 million leisure car journeys between Friday and Monday, making it the busiest bank holiday at the end of May since 2019.
Traffic data company Inrix warned that journeys on some sections of the M25 will take up to three times longer than normal.
They extend clockwise from junction 23 for Hatfield to junction 28 for Chelmsford and anti-clockwise towards the Dartford Crossing.
Long delays can also be expected on the M5 in Somerset and the M6 in Cheshire and Greater Manchester.
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 3:16 p.m
Travelers in Dover also have to reckon with long queues
Travelers in Dover have been hit with long queues and there too have experienced IT issues, although wait times have reduced.
The latest update from the Port of Dover on Twitter reads: “As predicted the Port of Dover is full but traffic is currently going well and according to plan.” Previous IT issues at the border resolved. Waiting times for cars and buses are now between 30 and 45 minutes.”
At the Port of Dover in Kent, passengers queue for ferries as the half-term break and bank holiday weekend getaway continues
(PA)
Travelers in Dover have been hit with long queues and there too have experienced IT issues, although wait times have reduced
(PA)
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 2:44 p.m
Border Force has “robust plans” in place, says the Home Office
A Home Office spokeswoman said Border Police had “robust plans” in place for deploying officers to minimize disruption and wait times.
The automated e-gate system is available to UK citizens over the age of 12 and EU citizens, as well as those from several other countries including Australia, Canada, the US, Japan and New Zealand.
The spokeswoman said: “We are aware of an issue with the nationwide border system which is affecting arrivals in the UK.
“We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and are working with port operators and airlines to minimize disruption to travelers.”
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 2:16 p.m
Gatwick Airports says situation is ‘manageable’
Gatwick Airport has communicated it The Independent The situation on site is “manageable”.
It added that the electronic passport gates are still closed.
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 1:46 p.m
Video shows long delays at passport control at Gatwick Airport
Long passport control delays at Gatwick airport following nationwide outage of e-passport gates
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 1:16 p.m
Gatwick Airport ‘offers assistance to passengers’
A Gatwick Airport spokesman said the problem started on Friday night but by Saturday morning queues had reduced and staff were “providing assistance to passengers when needed”.
He said: “Some passengers may experience delays in entry due to a nationwide issue with UK Border Police e-gates.
“Our staff are working alongside UK Border Police who operate passport control including e-gates to provide assistance to passengers if required.”
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 12:48 p.m