Pilot union BALPA is demanding urgent talks with the Transport Secretary, Home Secretary, Chancellor and Prime Minister, to discuss the government’s ‘shameless inability’ to implement an efficient border system.
A five-hour queue for arriving passengers is ‘shocking’ BALPA says, and is a result of the government’s ‘shambolic border rules.’
"The government needs to face up to its inadequacies, demonstrated repeatedly by events on the ground, and sit down with BALPA and other travel industry unions to find a practical, workable way forward," BALPA said.
Acting General Secretary Martin Chalk said: "The UK was a great global trading nation, built on a world class aviation industry. Government decisions have seemingly set about destroying the foundations of global Britain."
Heathrow Airport slammed Border Force over the ‘unacceptable queuing times.’
Border Force is ‘rapidly reviewing its rosters and capacity and flexibly deploying our staff across the airport to improve waiting times,’ the Home Office said.
"Border Force were aware of the extra demand from families and we are very disappointed that they did not provide sufficient resource," an airport spokesperson said.
