Airport delays – live: Bank Holiday travel chaos as passport e-gates fail across UK

Bank Holiday travel chaos as passport e-gates fail across UK

Passengers are facing long delays as electronic passport gates have gone down across UK airports.

The issue is likely to cause long delays at passport controls for bank holiday travelers flying into the country as all airports that use the gates are affected.

The Home Office has confirmed the news after the system went down on Friday night - but did not say how long the fault would last.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are aware of a nationwide border system issue affecting arrivals into the UK.

“We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and are liaising with port operators and airlines to minimise disruption for travellers.”

This comes after thousands of people faced having their bank holiday plans plunged into chaos, as British Airways was forced to cancel scores of flights on Thursday and Friday following an IT failure.

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 10:01

Passenger says passport control was ‘unbelievable’ and ‘stiflingly hot'

“Unbelievable” and “stiflingly hot” is how a passenger has described their experience at passport control at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Chris O'Hara added: “Welcome to modern Britain.”

He wrote on social media: “2am, Gatwick North Terminal passport control. Unbelievable. Welcome to modern Britain.

“And of course, the aircon is shut down, so it's stiflingly hot.”

“Unbelievable” and “stiflingly hot” is how a passenger has described their experience at passport control at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Saturday morning

(Chris O’Hara)

Passengers are facing travel chaos as electronic passport gates have gone down across UK airports

(Chris O’Hara)

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 15:47

As many as 19.2 million car trips estimated for bank holiday

The RAC estimated that drivers across the UK will embark on 19.2 million leisure car trips between Friday and Monday making it the busiest late May bank holiday since 2019.

Transport data company Inrix warned that journeys on some stretches of the M25 will take up to three times longer than normal.

They include clockwise from Junction 23 for Hatfield to Junction 28 for Chelmsford, and anticlockwise towards the Dartford Crossing.

Long delays are also expected on the M5 in Somerset and the M6 in Cheshire and Greater Manchester.

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 15:16

Travellers at Dover also hit with long queues

Long queues have been affecting travellers at Dover, which has also experienced IT problems, although waiting times have been easing.

The Port of Dover’s latest update on Twitter reads: “As predicted Port of Dover is busy but traffic currently processing well and according to plan. Earlier IT issues at border resolved. Waiting times for cars and coaches now between 30 - 45 mins.”

Passengers queue for ferries at the Port of Dover in Kent as the getaway for half term and the bank holiday weekend continues

(PA)

Long queues have been affecting travellers at Dover, which has also experienced IT problems, although waiting times have been easing

(PA)

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 14:44

Border Force has put in place ‘robust plans’, says Home Office

A Home Office spokeswoman said that the Border Force had put in place “robust plans” to deploy officers to minimise disruption and wait times.

The automated e-gate system is available for British citizens aged over 12 and those from the EU, as well as people from several other countries including Australia, Canada, the US, Japan and New Zealand.

The spokeswoman said: “We are aware of a nationwide border system issue affecting arrivals into the UK.

“We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and are liaising with port operators and airlines to minimise disruption for travellers.”

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 14:16

Gatwick Airports says situation is ‘manageable'

Gatwick Airport has told The Independent the situation on the ground there is “manageable”.

It added the electronic passport gates are still down.

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 13:46

Video shows long delays at Gatwick Airport passport control

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 13:16

Gatwick Airport ‘providing assistance to passengers'

A Gatwick Airport spokesman said the problem started on Friday evening but queues had eased on Saturday morning, and its staff is “providing assistance to passengers where necessary”.

He said: “Some passengers may experience delays at immigration due to a nationwide issue with UK Border Force e-gates.

“Our staff are working with UK Border Force – who operate passport control including the e-gates – to provide assistance to passengers where necessary.”

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 12:48

Pictures of ‘absolute chaos’ at Gatwick Airport

Another passenger has shown the “absolute chaos” at Gatwick Airport after the downing of the electronic passport gates.

They posted a series of pictures of people waiting at border control in long queues on Twitter, with the caption, “Absolute chaos at Gatwick.”

The Independent has approached Gatwick Airport for comment.

Another passenger has shown the “absolute chaos” at Gatwick Airport after the downing of the electronic passport gates

(@theburnxngwolf / Twitter)

The traveller posted a series of pictures of people waiting at border control in long queues on Twitter, with the caption, “Absolute chaos at Gatwick”

(@theburnxngwolf / Twitter)

Passengers are facing travel chaos as electronic passport gates have gone down across UK airports

(@theburnxngwolf / Twitter)

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 12:19

Passenger shows ‘long delays at passport control'

A passenger has told of “long delays at passport control” at Gatwick Airport upon his arrival there on Saturday morning.

Alongside a picture of the queues posted on social media, Luke Herr said he had been in Germany for a business trip where there had been a comparatively “slick operation”.

Describing the chaos, he said, “Welcome to the UK.”

A passenger has told of “long delays at passport control” at Gatwick Airport upon his arrival there on Saturday morning

(Luke Kerr)

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 11:47