The lengthy Easter weekend is very nearly here, and many of us are planning to make the most of the bank holidays with a trip abroad.
But it seems that our Easter holidays could get off to a bumpy start, as some of the UK’s biggest airlines are warning of long delays at airports. As many as 1.5 million people are expected to jet off on holiday this weekend, but there are concerns that there are not enough border staff to deal with the large numbers.
Eleven major airlines have raised their concerns with Theresa May. In a letter to the Home Secretary, they say that the problem has been made worse by a return to 100 per cent passport checks at a time when border staff numbers have been cut.
The letter was issued by the British Air Transport Association, on behalf of airlines including easyJet, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
“We don’t want to see queues at airports. It’s bad for passengers and for UK plc to see long queues at passport control,” said Simon Buck, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA).
“We are looking for reassurance from the Home Office that the Border Force will be properly resourced. We don’t want to see queues at airports.”
The BATA have said that border staff numbers have been cut by 25 per cent, meaning delays are likely over what will be the busiest travel weekend of the year so far.
“We’re working with airlines to ensure security is maintained and disruption is minimised. There is no evidence that there is going to be disruption,” a UK Border Force spokesman.
“We will not compromise border security but we always aim to keep disruption to a minimum. Carrying out full checks can mean queues at peak times while we ensure that only people entitled to enter the UK can do so.”
(Images: Christopher Elison, Roo Reynolds)
