Passengers at Heathrow are enduring waits of an hour or more to clear passport control, according to John Tincey, head of the Immigration Service Union. He warned that delays are so severe that some short-haul travellers spend longer in immigration queues than on their flights, contradicting Home Office claims of a typical 15-minute wait.
Tincey reported rising passenger anger, with frequent verbal assaults on staff and immigration halls overflowing with “endless queues”. He called for an immediate 10 per cent increase in Heathrow’s current 855 immigration officers, blaming the problems on rising passenger numbers, slower passport scanners, and stricter checks ordered by the Home Office after EU expansion—without extra staff.
The warning fuels concerns over London’s image, with business leaders saying poor conditions at Heathrow are damaging the capital’s reputation. Critics fear foreign businessmen may shun Britain as a result.
Lin Homer, chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency, defended the checks, stating: “It is critical to the security of the UK that we verify the documents of those who seek to enter the country. We make no apology for this.”
Meanwhile, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have told the Competition Commission that BAA’s control of London’s airports should be ended, with individual terminals handed to separate owners.
