Dover ferry delays – live: More chaos for Easter holidaymakers as French protests block traffic

Update from port of Dover

Tourist traffic is currently free flowing through Dover, according to port authorities amid reports of long queues ahead of the Easter weekend.

Here is their latest update:

Emily Atkinson6 April 2023 15:59

Heathrow regains status as one of top 10 busiest airports in the world

London Heathrow is once again one of the 10 busiest airports in the world after previously falling down the list as a result of the pandemic.

Having tumbled to number 54 in the global rankings after around two years of closure, Heathrow has now jumped back up to 8th place.

This was the biggest movement recorded by any airport, with the London hub seeing 61.6 million passengers pass through in 2022 – a 217 per cent leap on 2021 figures.

More on this story here:

Emily Atkinson6 April 2023 15:26

Latest images from Dover

(PA)

(PA)

(PA)

Emily Atkinson6 April 2023 15:01

Dover urges ‘patience’ as waits of a ‘few hours’ in store for Friday

Britons have been urged to be “patient” on Friday as waits of a “few hours” at the port of Dover threaten to scupper weekend travel plans.

Tweeting this afternoon, the port said: “This Easter weekend will be busy. Extra measures are in place and Passenger Champions are ready at #PortofDover to welcome and help you.

“During the busiest travel hours on Friday, there may be a few hours of waiting. Please, be patient. We’re working hard to get you on your way.”

Emily Atkinson6 April 2023 14:42

Aer Lingus app and website restored

The website and mobile app of Irish airline Aer Lingus have been restored after going down ahead of one of the busiest travel weekends at Dublin Airport.

Aer Lingus said it expects flights to operate as normal but had previously warned of a risk of delays.

The airline apologised for inconveniencing passengers.

(Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

“The Aer Lingus website, mobile app and self-service kiosks are now fully available for customers to check in and manage their bookings,” it said.

Dublin Airport expects 485,000 passengers to pass through its gates between Thursday and Monday.

Emily Atkinson6 April 2023 14:29

Ryanair urges EU commission to protect overflights during French strikes

Ryanair has shared its frustration over the fallout from French air traffic control strikes, urging the EU commission to take action to protect overflights.

It comes as another day of walkouts in France against President Macron’s plans for pension reform forced Air France, easyJet, Ryanair and Vueling of Spain have cancelled some flights to, from, within or over France on Friday.

Ryanair tweeted: “French air-traffic controllers are entitled to go on strike, but if there is going to be cancellations it is French flights that should take these cancellations, not overflights.”

Emily Atkinson6 April 2023 14:12

Holidaymakers face more travel chaos as queues build up at Dover ahead of Easter weekend

Millions of Britons are facing travel chaos this weekend with flights grounded, trains cancelled and traffic already building up at Dover as the Easter weekend getaway begins.

The four days between Good Friday to Easter Monday are expected to be the busiest since 2019, with post-Brexit passport checks, rail works and strikes in France all set to cause delays for travellers.

On Thursday morning, holidaymakers booked on cross-Channel ferries from Dover were already facing queues of 90 minutes for passport checks by French officials due to a “high volume” of traffic.

Read travel correspondent Simon Calder’s latest report here:

Emily Atkinson6 April 2023 13:53

More chaos for Easter holidaymakers as French protests block traffic

Easter holidaymakers bound for Europe are already mired in stifling travel delays after French protesters launched another day of industrial action.

France is the latest popular European destination to be hit by walkouts, with strike action in the UK, Portugal and Spain threatening to inflame rampant delays and cancellations.

(AP)

Travel chaos has broken out on both sides of the channel, as French protestors blocked traffic around a mile from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport early on Thursday morning, forcing travellers to walk.

British Airways grounded around 20 flights that would have used French airspace as nationwide air traffic control strikes erupted across France.

Meanwhile, long queues have already formed for ferries at the port of Dover, with operator DFDS tweeting that the wait for passport checks by French officials is “up to 90 minutes”.

Emily Atkinson6 April 2023 13:44

Coach firms ‘treated unfairly’ during Dover disruption

Coach operators have claimed their vehicles were “treated unfairly” after thousands of passengers were stranded at the Port of Dover for up to 24 hours over the weekend.

Trade association the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) called for “crisis talks” with the Government, the Kent port and ferry companies to “resolve this mess once and for all”.

Many holidaymakers travelling by coach during the weekend – the start of the Easter holiday period for many schools – were delayed entering the port and being processed.

The queues had cleared by Monday morning but there are fears the congestion could return during other peak periods due to French border officials carrying out extra checks and stamping UK passports following Brexit.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain6 April 2023 12:48

Travel disruption rips through France as queues build at Dover port

As well as delays at the Port of Dover, a general strike in France in a row over pension reforms is causing further travel disruption.

Many flights to, from and over France have been grounded due to air traffic controllers joining the walkout.

British Airways axed at least 20 flights which would have used French airspace on Thursday.

Eurostar cancelled a train in both directions between London and Paris.

Meanwhile, drivers have been warned to expect long delays on popular routes over the coming days.

The RAC is predicting that up to 17 million leisure trips by car will take place between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Major roads in south-west England and some in the Home Counties are likely to experience the worst congestion on Good Friday.

Queues are likely to be increased by engineering work on the railways, including the closure of London Euston station over the bank holiday weekend.

(PA)

Maryam Zakir-Hussain6 April 2023 12:25