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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Easter travel 'gridlock' warning given by airlines | Easter travel 'gridlock' warning given by airlines |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Airlines have warned the home secretary that Britain "risks gridlock" at airports over the Easter break, because of staff shortages. | Airlines have warned the home secretary that Britain "risks gridlock" at airports over the Easter break, because of staff shortages. |
| The British Air Transport Association has written to Theresa May with 11 airlines' concerns over possible delays at peak travel times such as Easter. | The British Air Transport Association has written to Theresa May with 11 airlines' concerns over possible delays at peak travel times such as Easter. |
| They say there are too few border staff for full security checks. | They say there are too few border staff for full security checks. |
| The Border Force said it would "aim to keep disruption to a minimum by using our staff flexibly to meet demand". | The Border Force said it would "aim to keep disruption to a minimum by using our staff flexibly to meet demand". |
| It said it was recruiting extra staff to help with the holiday demand. | |
| British Airways and Virgin Airlines are amongst those expressing their concerns over potential delays to hundreds of thousands of passengers. | British Airways and Virgin Airlines are amongst those expressing their concerns over potential delays to hundreds of thousands of passengers. |
| More than 370,000 passengers will fly from Heathrow airport between Good Friday and Easter Monday, and 200,000 will travel through Gatwick. | More than 370,000 passengers will fly from Heathrow airport between Good Friday and Easter Monday, and 200,000 will travel through Gatwick. |
| The British Air Transport Association, which represents the airlines, has urged Mrs May to bring in more staff to cope with the demands of making full and thorough security checks for an increased number of passengers over times such as Easter and the Queen's Jubilee. | The British Air Transport Association, which represents the airlines, has urged Mrs May to bring in more staff to cope with the demands of making full and thorough security checks for an increased number of passengers over times such as Easter and the Queen's Jubilee. |
| Its chief executive, Simon Buck, said stringent checks would be "more time consuming" and airlines wanted "a reassurance from the government that the UK Border Agency is being properly resourced". | |
| There was also concern that the impact on airport operations could lead to "congestion" in baggage halls and passengers being kept on flights. | |
| The Home Office said it would not comment on the number of current border staff for "security reasons". | |
| However the Immigration Service Union said about a third of the workforce had been cut over the past five or six years, and that many of the extra workers brought in by the Border Force would be staff asked to work on their rest days. | |
| The union also said some staff would come from a contingency pool of workers who had taken redundancy or retired. | |
| Border staff previously used "risk-based" passport checks on people coming into the country, which involved not carrying out extra checks on passengers. | Border staff previously used "risk-based" passport checks on people coming into the country, which involved not carrying out extra checks on passengers. |
| These include scanning the passport biometric chip and checking government warning lists. | These include scanning the passport biometric chip and checking government warning lists. |
| But following criticism over the use of these "risk-based" measures, the government has now asked for all mandatory checks to be carried out - which take longer. | But following criticism over the use of these "risk-based" measures, the government has now asked for all mandatory checks to be carried out - which take longer. |
| A spokesman for Heathrow owner BAA told the Daily Telegraph: "Immigration waiting times during peak periods at Heathrow are currently unacceptable and we have called on the UK Border Force to address the problem as a matter of urgency. | A spokesman for Heathrow owner BAA told the Daily Telegraph: "Immigration waiting times during peak periods at Heathrow are currently unacceptable and we have called on the UK Border Force to address the problem as a matter of urgency. |
| "There isn't a trade-off between strong border security and a good passenger experience. UK Border Force should be delivering both." | "There isn't a trade-off between strong border security and a good passenger experience. UK Border Force should be delivering both." |
| 'Lengthy queues' | 'Lengthy queues' |
| A spokeswoman for Virgin Airlines said: "While the decision on what level of check should be made at the border is, of course, a matter for government, we are concerned that there is currently a mismatch between policy and resource. | A spokeswoman for Virgin Airlines said: "While the decision on what level of check should be made at the border is, of course, a matter for government, we are concerned that there is currently a mismatch between policy and resource. |
| "After years of reducing front line staff, returning to a 100% check system will undoubtedly mean lengthy queues at UK airports over critical holiday periods such as Easter and the Diamond Jubilee. | "After years of reducing front line staff, returning to a 100% check system will undoubtedly mean lengthy queues at UK airports over critical holiday periods such as Easter and the Diamond Jubilee. |
| "If the government wishes to continue with this policy, it must put the resource in place to make it possible or we risk gridlock at our busiest airports at a time when we hope to be welcoming millions to the UK." | "If the government wishes to continue with this policy, it must put the resource in place to make it possible or we risk gridlock at our busiest airports at a time when we hope to be welcoming millions to the UK." |
| Heathrow Airport says this weekend is not going to be the busiest of the Easter getaway. | Heathrow Airport says this weekend is not going to be the busiest of the Easter getaway. |
| A spokesman said last weekend was busiest for departures and that Sunday 15 April will be the busiest for arrivals. He also said severe disruption was not being predicted. | A spokesman said last weekend was busiest for departures and that Sunday 15 April will be the busiest for arrivals. He also said severe disruption was not being predicted. |
| Agency split | Agency split |
| The Border Force became a separate law-enforcement body in early March, as a result of the UK Border Agency being split in two. | The Border Force became a separate law-enforcement body in early March, as a result of the UK Border Agency being split in two. |
| A Border Force spokeswoman said: "The Border Force is prepared for the busy Easter period and has ensured extra staff will be working at the border to carry out vital security checks. | A Border Force spokeswoman said: "The Border Force is prepared for the busy Easter period and has ensured extra staff will be working at the border to carry out vital security checks. |
| "We will not compromise border security, but we always aim to keep disruption to a minimum by using our staff flexibly to meet demand. | "We will not compromise border security, but we always aim to keep disruption to a minimum by using our staff flexibly to meet demand. |
| "Carrying out full checks at airports help us stop threats from terrorists, criminals and others who want to harm the UK and make sure that only those with the right to enter the UK can do so." | "Carrying out full checks at airports help us stop threats from terrorists, criminals and others who want to harm the UK and make sure that only those with the right to enter the UK can do so." |
| Are you planning to go away during the Easter break? Are you concerned about warnings of "gridlock" at airports? You can send us your views using the form below. | Are you planning to go away during the Easter break? Are you concerned about warnings of "gridlock" at airports? You can send us your views using the form below. |