Police officers from all over the country will be seconded to the UK Border Agency when thousands strike on Wednesday over public sector pension reforms.
Ministers are also considering deploying troops to secure Britain’s borders during the walkout. Francis Maude, Cabinet Office minister, on Sunday refused to rule out using military personnel at immigration checkpoints at airports and ports.
Airport operator BAA has asked airlines to halve the number of passengers they bring into Heathrow on Wednesday.
American Airlines, United Continental and Scandinavian Airlines followed the example of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, and said they were offering customers due to fly into London’s main airport on November 30 the chance to change to flights on a different day at no extra charge.
A BAA spokesman told the Financial Times: “We have received positive responses so far from airlines about their willingness to reduce the number of arriving passengers at Heathrow, and we will be in a better position on Monday to understand whether the reductions that have been made will be sufficient to avoid cancellations of departing aircraft.”
Maude told Sky News the government would if necessary use troops to secure borders and minimise disruption for travellers.
“If that’s what is needed – it’s not what we’d prefer to do – but if that is needed, I am told the UK Border Agency are looking at all the options,” he said.
BAA is warning it could take 12 hours for travellers to clear passport checkpoints at Heathrow because of the strike.
Heathrow could grind to a halt if people on arriving aircraft have to be kept on board for long periods because of big queues at passport controls.
This could lead to mass cancellations of departing aircraft.