"It seems that Heathrow is in meltdown yet again and, despite the media firestorm over April's clusterfuck, ministers and those in charge of passport checks etc have not yet learned their lesson."One week on and things at Heathrow are still no better, as Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, can attest to. He paid Heathrow Terminal 4 a visit today and was less than impressed with the ongoing clusterfuck.
"I was appalled by the length of queues in the immigration hall this morning
It is now two months since the Immigration Minister promised additional resources and better management.To add to the humiliation, BAA claim that the Border Force yet again failed to meet its 45 minute maximum waiting time target for passengers from the European Economic Area (the EU plus Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway).
The worst aspect was that half of the immigration desks were simply not opened even though the Border Force had prior knowledge of all flight arrivals.
This creates additional security pressures with luggage piling up in the baggage hall.
We had people waiting in the corridors at the busiest international airport in the world.”
"Angry passengers reported queuing for nearly two and a half hours last week – with some starting far outside the immigration hall – to be met with empty passport control desks and uninterested staff."It is quite clear that Heathrow will not be able to cope during the Olympics, therefore those who can change their travel plans are strongly advised to avoid London airport at all costs during the games!
“The leaflet is not all right with us. It is both inflammatory and likely to increase tensions in arrivals halls especially in the current atmosphere.For good measure he also told BAA to stop passengers taking pictures of the queues in the arrivals hall.
It is inappropriate in that it is not for you to display how to complain on our behalf.
Please refrain from handing out [the leaflets] or I will escalate [the matter] with ministers who are likely to take a very dim view. I know there are copies in the hall and your troops are ready with them.”
"Heathrow believes that its temporary Terminal 6 will be able to cope with the departing Olympics VIPs after the Games.It seems, as news reports of 3 hour delays at Heathrow immigration show, that the shambles is already upon us.
All very well, if you are a departing VIP. However, what of those coming to the UK before and during the Games?
It seems no one running Heathrow has thought of that. Step forward Culture Select Committee chairman, John Whittingdale, who has pointed out the elephant in the room and said that not enough thought seemed to have been given to ways of coping with long queues at immigration.
Seemingly, the much maligned and inept UK Border Agency (UKBA) is whining that it has insufficient money to open all of its passport stations.
Mr Whittingdale is quoted by the BBC as saying that MPs:
"did not leave the briefing confident that Heathrow was ready to cope with the arrival of a huge number of competitors, Olympic family and visiting tourists in timely fashion.In other words, Heathrow will be more of a shambles than ever during the peak travel season."
We understand that significant preparations have been made to accommodate unusual sporting equipment, special lanes for the Olympic family, welcoming arrangements for competitors and additional Olympic ambassadors.
However, far less thought seems to have been given to the issue of how to deal with long queues at immigration.
The UKBA (UK Border Agency) representative suggested that there was insufficient funding to ensure all passport stations would be open.
While visiting tourists will understand that the Olympics is a busy time, if the wait (at immigration) is in excess of an hour it may deter tourists from returning. The second impact may be that planes cannot unload their passengers into the terminal due to capacity being exceeded. This would lead to circling in the air, planes being left on runways or planes blocking gates."
"did not leave the briefing confident that Heathrow was ready to cope with the arrival of a huge number of competitors, Olympic family and visiting tourists in timely fashion.In other words, Heathrow will be more of a shambles than ever during the peak travel season.
We understand that significant preparations have been made to accommodate unusual sporting equipment, special lanes for the Olympic family, welcoming arrangements for competitors and additional Olympic ambassadors.
However, far less thought seems to have been given to the issue of how to deal with long queues at immigration.
The UKBA (UK Border Agency) representative suggested that there was insufficient funding to ensure all passport stations would be open.
While visiting tourists will understand that the Olympics is a busy time, if the wait (at immigration) is in excess of an hour it may deter tourists from returning.
The second impact may be that planes cannot unload their passengers into the terminal due to capacity being exceeded. This would lead to circling in the air, planes being left on runways or planes blocking gates."
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