Heathrow in ‘crisis’ over two-hour border checks
A MINISTER'S vow to tackle the airport passport check chaos that threatens to undermine the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Olympics blew up in his face yesterday when massive queues built up just hours after he visited Heathrow.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airway’s parent company IAG, said: “The Government has tried to convince people that we don’t have a crisis.
“The Government is misleading people. We have a crisis, it has been there for some time and we need urgent action.”
Immigration Minister Damian Green is facing a rising tide of complaints that incoming passengers have to wait for up to two-and-a-half hours.
He visited Terminal 3 at lunchtime when queues were only minutes long and about 13 of 30 border control desks were manned. Just hours later, passengers at Terminal 5 were reporting a very different story.
The Government is misleading people. We have a crisis, it has been there for some time and we need urgent action
Australian financier Anthony Venus, 39, who queued for an hour after landing from Brazil said: “That’s convenient.
“He comes when things are OK but as soon as he leaves things stuff up. Typical of a politician.”
Only three passport check desks were open when he arrived. He said: “People were not happy.
“The woman on the desk said they were understaffed as the Government had slashed staff by 60 per cent in the past few years due to budget cuts. She said, ‘God help anyone coming here when the Olympics are on’.”
Mexican Luis Hernandez, 65, who queued for two hours on arrival from Venice, said: “There must be 300 people back there. There are only four desks out of 20 open. People were very angry. It’s been a nightmare.”
Mr Green was criticised on Monday for dismissing reports of two-hour waits as “wild” exaggeration. He yesterday denied downplaying a problem said to be hitting other airports as well.
At Heathrow he announced 80 contingency staff were being drafted in from around the land.
In the morning on BBC Radio 4’s Today show he said: “What’s really important in this is that airlines, airport operators and Border Force work together. That is the way we solve this.”
But Mark Serwotka, the Public and Commercial Services civil service union chief, said: “Drafting in staff from other areas of an already overstretched agency is like putting a sticking plaster on a serious injury.”
Mr Walsh called for the Air Passenger Duty of about £3billion a year to be spent on boosting border control resources.
Airlines are to meet Home Secretary Theresa May this week.
Prime Minister David Cameron saw Mrs May yesterday for an update and reportedly told ministers they must admit there was a problem and to get a grip on it.
Sir Keith Mills, deputy chairman of London Olympics organiser Locog, warned Heathrow chaos had already sent a bad message about the UK to sports chiefs, business leaders and major broadcasters arriving to do business ahead of the Games.
Fears are growing that airports will not be able to cope with Britain’s crucial showcase year.
