Heathrow Airport: Chaos as passengers queue at border

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Some who were travelling through Heathrow Airport took to social media to share their frustrations. They claimed they had been waiting for many hours with no social distancing.

As travel restrictions ease, more Britons are heading to the airports in hopes of a holiday.

Scenes from Heathrow Airport were shared on social media as some claimed there was little social distancing.

Posting on Twitter, one wrote: “@HeathrowAirport deplaning a #britishairways US Plane (amber list).

“Stuffing everyone onto a tiny bus and refusing to leave until there’s 50 of us onboard.”

Another questioned: “When int. arrivals (inc. elderly and children) spend five hours in the immigration queue in a poorly ventilated space, with no social distancing, food facilities or even seating, how does it affect the reputation of this airport and this country?”

In response Heathrow Airport tweeted: “Waiting times at the border have on occasion been unacceptable and we have called on the UK Government to address the problem as a matter of urgency.

“Immigration desks/E-gates can only be operated by UK GOV officials – not airport staff.”

In response to a query on waiting times, it added: “Unfortunately, we are unable to provide information in regards to immigration queue times on behalf of UK Border Force, who operate and manage our immigration halls.”

Another passenger claimed they were also waiting in long queues.

They suggested queues were worse for some people than others.

The post read: “Currently in a massive crowd-queue designed for families at @HeathrowAirport passport control.

“Non-families breezing through and meanwhile this has the makings of a super spreader event: hoards of maskless children, no ventilation, everyone crowded together, plenty of coughing.”

Other passengers at the scene suggested there were not enough counters open to cater for the number of passengers.

One wrote: “In the queue at @HeathrowAirport Terminal 5 for the last two hours.

“Just three officers processing hundreds of international arrivals. Hats off to them.

“Hoping I take less time to clear the border office checks than it took me to fly here.”

Another agreed and stated there were only “five to six counters out of 32” open.

Airports have previously stated issues around queues have been raised with the Government.

They added queues are outside their control.

Today is the first day changes in the traffic light system have come into play. 

From today, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Switzerland and the Azores have been added to the green list, meaning those who travel do not need to quarantine.

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