Heathrow’s immigration control is experiencing massive delays today, causing anger among passengers who complained of long queues and being delayed for hours.
According to the UK’s busiest airport, delays are being caused due to health checks, despite similar measures being in place since months.
One passenger shouted out, “You should get fined.” There are about 250,000 people waiting for passport control… You have to be laughing.
Heathrow’s immigration control is causing anger among passengers who were held up in long queues and faced delays.
The busiest airport in Britain claimed that delays are caused by health checks, despite the same measures being in place since months.
Another commented, “You really need to sort out your Immigration lines if you want people continue to travel through Heathrow with BA!
“Simply shocking today.” I think I circled Terminal 5 at least three times at this stage!
One disgruntled passenger said, “Been in the border check queue for over 2 hours now and I am nowhere close to the end.
“Might be in the line for another two hour.”
MailOnline was informed by the airport that there was nothing unusual causing the long delays.
MailOnline was told by the airport that there was nothing unusual that could have caused the long delays
One passenger shared a photo showing that half of the electronic passport barriers were not working.
One passenger shared a photo that showed ‘half’ the electronic passport barriers not functioning.
One witness who waited for hours at the gates reported that tempers flared as passengers laughed about the lack of social interaction as they were all crammed into the queues.
Heathrow said: ‘Border Force is currently experiencing some delays as they conduct Health Measure Checks to ensure passenger compliance with the UK Government’s latest entry requirements.
“Whilst we don’t have precise figures on how long it takes for queues to clear, our teams at the terminals are available to assist where possible and we work with Border Force to reduce delays as quickly as possible.
It comes after it was revealed this week that holidaymakers and frequent flyers are facing yet more misery, with Heathrow set to hike the price it charges airlines by up to £13 per person.
The London airport has been given the green signal to increase the prices it charges carriers to use its services starting next year.
Currently the airport can charge up to £22 per passenger for the cost of operating terminals, runways, baggage systems and security.
Heathrow chiefs had wanted to charge as much as £43 from January – a plan slammed by airline bosses who accused the airport of acting like a ‘greedy monopoly’.
But industry regulator – the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) – stepped in and ordered the cost to be capped at £25 to £35 for the next five years.
An interim charge of £30 has already been agreed for January – and is due to be discussed as part of a separate consultation in November.
The rising cost of airline tickets will likely be passed on to passengers who have already experienced months of travel disruptions, confusing travel restrictions, and expensive Covid testing requirements.
The rise, based on next year’s £30 figure, means the average family of four face an extra £32 in flight costs – before any annual ticket price adjustments from the airlines themselves.
It also comes as Heathrow this month introduced a new £5 drop-off charge outside its terminals.
Heathrow officials have however defended the hike. It is part of airport’s plan to recover its huge losses due to Covid.
The airport reported a £2billion annual loss due to a huge drop in customer numbers last year.
Holidaymakers and frequent flyers are facing yet more travel misery, with Heathrow now set to hike the price it charges airlines by £8 per person
Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss criticized today’s decision, claiming that it had ‘failed British consumers’.
“Today’s first proposals by Civil Aviation Authority allow Heathrow Airport the ability to introduce unacceptable charges, just like international travel resumes at scale.
“The world’s most expensive airport is at risk of becoming more expensive than 50 percent as Heathrow and its owners try to recover their pandemic losses, and secure hundreds and millions in dividends for shareholders.
“It is concerning that regulator failed in its initial opportunity to intervene. We, along with industry partners, will oppose these proposals in strongest terms to protect passengers.
Mr Weiss stated that the move could also harm the UK’s economic recovery after Covid and would unfairly hit family and business pockets’.
Rory Boland, Which? Rory Boland (Which???? Travel Editor) said: “Which?! Research has shown that airport fees are passed along to passengers via higher fares. Any Heathrow proposal to increase fares will likely come from consumers’ pockets.
“Heathrow already has some of the highest fees in the UK so it’s right for the CAA to intervene and determine if these proposed increases are proportional.
The cost of a family summer holiday could soar by up to £100 next year due to Heathrow airport’s ‘outrageous’ price hikes, former British Airways boss Willie Walsh (pictured) warned last night
A former British Airways boss warned last week that the cost of a family summer holiday could soar by up to £100 next year due to Heathrow airport’s ‘outrageous’ price hikes.
Willie Walsh said Heathrow acted like a monopoly of greed and that its wealthy shareholders should’step up to invest’ after years of generous dividend payouts.
The International Air Transport Association trade group is run by the Irishman. He joined Virgin Atlantic and BA to lobby the CAA against price increases.
Mr Walsh stated that “Heathrow must realize that gouging its passengers is not the way to recovery for itself, the airlines or travel and tourism jobs or travellers.
“I sympathize with some airports, but I find it outrageous that there is a 90 percent increase.
“There is no reason for them to do that. The only reason they do that is because they think they can.
“Instead, it’s the time for Heathrow shareholders to invest. Millions of people will be affected by the UK’s recovery in the travel and tourism industries. They cannot be held captive to the intransigence and greed of what is effectively an airport monopoly.
Heathrow’s seven billionaires include sovereign wealth funds from China, Singapore, and Qatar.
It has paid out about £4 billion in dividends since 2012 and has said it could restart payouts next year, after pausing them over the pandemic, if its debts come under control.
Heathrow’s charges are based on the number of people who use the airport. It expects around 40m passengers next year, as opposed to 80m before the pandemic. This means that each passenger must pay more in order to make up the difference.
Company documents show Heathrow would have raised around £1.6billion from airport charges next year – had it been able to charge the higher rate it had requested.
But the new £30 charge is expected to only raise around £300million.
Richard Moriarty chief executive at CAA told BBC that the industry has been through a’really difficult period.
Mr Moriarty stated the CAA’s proposal, which will be finalised next, struck the right balance between consumer interest and the airport.
Company documents show Heathrow would have raised around £1.6billion from airport charges next year – had it been able to charge the higher rate it had requested. But the new £30 charge is expected to only raise around £300million. (File image
The airlines can still contest the charge.
MailOnline was informed by a Heathrow spokesperson: “Our goal is to reach a settlement which enables us to offer passengers a great service while operating an efficient, safe, resilient and competitive hub airport for Britain.”
“The fact that Heathrow is ranked as one of the top airports in the world by passengers is testament to the power and reach of private investment over this past decade. To ensure that this continues, we believe the settlement should guarantee a fair return to investors.
“While it is right that the CAA protects consumers against excessive profits, waste, the settlement does not shield airlines from legitimate costs increases or the effects of fewer travelers.
“We look forward discussing the CAA’s proposals in detail as we work towards an agreement.
It comes as earlier this year Heathrow announced a new £5 passenger drop-off charge outside its terminals.
The new charge, which was added in this month, is applicable to all vehicles, including taxis and private hire car, entering the forecourt areas at the airport’s terminals.
The fee must paid online or by phone. Number plate reading cameras are used instead of barriers to enforce the charges.
Heathrow chiefs say the move, which brings the airport’s policy in line with the likes of Gatwick and Manchester, who also have £5 drop-off charges, is aimed at ‘improving air quality and reducing congestion’. The move could bringing in as much as £100million-a-year for the airport.
The October 1st charge will be applied to all vehicles entering the forecourt area outside each terminal. Pictured: Drop-off areas will be subject to the airport’s charges
The double cost blow comes after more than a year of disruption for travelers due to Covid.
After initially banning international travel in an effort to stop the spread and proliferation of variants, Government created a confusing and rapidly-changing travel light system.
Many holidaymakers were unsure about foreign travel after the system that classified countries as amber, green, or red depending on the severity of their Covid epidemic.
Since then, it has been simplified to a “go” and “no-go” list. Passenger’s passport control at Heathrow has also been disrupted.
Border Force has had long wait times at the immigration hall. Problems with the egates, a shortage of staff and changes to the rotas Border Force officials are all to blame.
The requirement that double-vaccinated travellers must undergo expensive PCR tests upon their return from the UK has been dropped.
The policy change means that the PCR tests, which can cost more than £100, will finally be scrapped in time for families returning from half-term holidays.
The PCR tests for travellers will be replaced by cheaper rapid lateral flow swabs ‘before October 31’. However the NHS free tests will not be accepted.
Travellers will need to book the tests through private companies and show proof on their passenger locator forms, which must all be completed by all travellers before they return. Lateral flow tests typically cost between £20 and £40.