London Luton Airport has apologised for “unacceptable” delays at its passport control.
Passengers had complained of hour-long waits and others ”throwing up and fainting” on Monday night, the hottest day of 2018 so far.
Pictures posted on social media showed long queues at passport control.
Numerous passengers took to Twitter to raise the issue and an airport spokesperson responded by saying they would take up the delays the with UK Border Force, adding “we agree long waits are not acceptable”.
An airport spokesman later clarified that no reports of fainting or vomiting were received and its terminal team were on hand to assist with queue-management.
He added: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by extended wait times at the UK Border. Our immigration hall is being extended and reconfigured as part of our ongoing transformation. We continue to work with Border Force at a local and national level to ensure the best possible service to our passengers”.
A Home Office spokesman, speaking for UK Border Force, added: “The security of our border is paramount – which is why 100 per cent of scheduled passengers are checked when arriving in the UK.
“While every effort is made to keep delays for passengers to a minimum, when very large numbers of passengers arrive in a short space of time, it can mean a longer wait while these essential border security checks are conducted.”
@LDNLutonAirport seriously what is going on here? Any staff? pic.twitter.com/b7BOaftvEQ
— kirti ganatra (@kirtig321) June 25, 2018
@LDNLutonAirport is unbelievable the terrible management after a long flight trying to arrive to the passport controls. 30 degrees, locked in a corridor with no air conditioning. Sick kids along the queue and nowhere to go. Terrible #Luton airport @easyJetpic.twitter.com/VDbn0WxPRO
— Laura Diez (@laura10balbas) June 25, 2018
@LDNLutonAirport waited over an hour to get to border security, people throwing up and fainting. Sort it out
— Macie (@maciehashim) June 25, 2018
@BBC doing the immigration at @LDNLutonAirport is a total disaster. Families with kids crying. More than 3 hours waiting times
— Martin Torres (@martin_torresh) June 25, 2018