The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has urged the government to ensure sufficient resources are in place to avoid a repeat of early-Easter delays as holidaymakers return this weekend.
The CPT confirmed contact had been made after revealing that only one of its coach operator members had reported heavy traffic at the port over the bank holiday weekend, when there were minimal delays.
The Port of Dover last week implemented an emergency plan to “smooth” coach travel during the bank holiday period, following a “horrible” situation with lengthy queues that occurred the previous weekend.
Phil Smith, the CPT’s UK coach manager, said: “We are pleased the Port of Dover is listening to our calls to bring in more staff, but we still need ferry operators to improve their passenger advance information and for the port to introduce more coach priority measures.”
Commenting on the prospects for this weekend, he said: “We have contacted the government to help ensure the UK has adequate border staff in place in these locations, so passport checks for all road users, including coaches, can be processed quickly and efficiently.”
Elsewhere, holidaymakers managed a largely trouble-free getaway over the bank holiday weekend despite fears about strike action at Heathrow and a repeat of the long queues at Dover.
Heathrow released a statement saying: “Our strong contingency plans have kept the airport running smoothly throughout the strike period.”
However, the Foreign Office warned that there may be delays this weekend as demonstrations and strikes threaten to disrupt travellers returning to the UK through France.
Discussing the bank holiday weekend, a spokesperson for Hays Travel said: “Feedback from our customers is that they enjoyed smooth travel.
“Most travellers reported airports being busy but well controlled with an atmosphere reminiscent of Easter holidays years ago. Like them, we are excited to welcome spring and a return to what we hope will be sustained hassle-free holidays.”
Abta estimated that about two million British holidaymakers headed overseas during the long weekend, with the association’s members reporting “very strong sales”.
An Abta spokesperson added: “The delays and cancellations seen at many airports when travel reopened last year were largely caused by staffing levels.
“However, as always at busy times of year, there may well be longer passenger queues or particular operational issues affecting individual airports or carriers.”
Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of The Advantage Travel Partnership, said the largely smooth experience of most travellers “shows that the contingency measures that have been put in place are proving effective and will provide a boost to consumer confidence in the travel industry”.
Photo: MikhailBerkut/shutterstock.com