Passengers flying into UK airports face a day of queues at passport control as UK border staff joined the biggest pubic sector strike in more than 30 years.
However, Virgin Atlantic reported that 80% of immigration desks at Heathrow Terminal 3 were open early this morning to handle inbound long haul flights with delays of just six minutes.
Virgin Holidays said the non-EU passport queue at Heathrow Terminal 3 “appears to be manageable”. Monarch was among airlines saying they planned to operate a full flying schedule today despite delays expected at airports due to the day of action.
The BBC Radio 4 Today programme reported this morning that travellers from destinations including Australia have reported that it took them around 15 minutes to clear passport control. Airport operator BAA has drafted in emergency cover to help it cope.
However, delays are expected later this morning when Heathrow has to cope with a peak of around 30 flights arriving every hour.
The first 22 inbound flights started arriving from 5.20am into Gatwick’s North and South terminals, carrying around 3,500 passengers. “Passengers have been passing through the border zones as normal,” a spokesman said. “All outbound flights are operating as normal.”
Gatwick chief operating officer Scott Stanley said: “Whilst passengers have so far not experienced delays at the border zones we do expect delays to occur at some point today as the rate of arriving flights increases.
“That said, we do have robust plans in place to help keep those delays at the border zones to a minimum. To help avoid overcrowding, we have reconfigured both our airside terminals to provide significantly more space and seating for arriving passengers.
“Hundreds of Gatwick staff and volunteers are in the terminals today to provide assistance to passengers. Seated reception areas have been set up where games, activities and large TV plasma screens showing films have been made available to provide some respite to waiting passengers and children.
“Should passengers be required to wait in these seated reception areas before being called forward to go through to the border zones we will do our utmost to keep passengers updated on the situation.
“Food and refreshments will also be provided, and volunteers will be on hand to provide support and information to our passengers.
“We recognise that today is not going to be easy and arriving passengers will be met with queues at immigration but we are determined to make it as comfortable as we can for passengers.”
A spokesman for Heathrow owner BAA said: “We have worked with the UK Border Agency and airlines to minimise disruption, however we advise that arriving passengers required to pass through border agency checks should expect delays at immigration.”
A Manchester airport spokesman said: “So far so good. No disruption here – queues at usual levels for arriving passengers going through passport control and immigration.”