Travelers arriving at the UK’s biggest airports over the Christmas period could face serious delays and even risk cancellations due to a strike by UK Border Patrol agents.
A senior UK Border Force official told the I newspaper, “travelers could expect long queues at airports affected by the strike. We expect queues similar to those seen during all the Covid protocol problems in the summer of 2021 when queues of 10 to 12 hours were not uncommon “.
“Passengers should also expect flight cancellations due to staff shortages,” they added, “so they should contact their airlines before traveling.”
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has voted to strike over pay and working conditions from 23 December until the end of the year, except 27 December, which will affect all major UK airports.
The strike threatens to disrupt the Christmas travel plans of thousands of people arriving from around the world, including Britons living abroad hoping to return home for the festive period or leave the country to enjoy a skiing holiday. They are also affecting thousands of flights that have to stop in the UK before flying to North America or other destinations.
British media estimates that up to two million passengers have booked Christmas flights to and from the UK on at least 10,000 flights due to arrive at the affected airports.
Where are the strikes taking place?
Around 1,000 border guards will go on strike at all busy UK airports, including Heathrow (Terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5), Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, and the Port of Newhaven.
The strikes will mainly affect passport control for the UK, as 75% of passport control staff are members of the PCS union.
Christmas is already one of the busiest travel times of the year, and a strike by border guards is likely to lead to significant delays and cancellations. Some British media even reported that passengers could be left waiting for their planes on the runway, which would later affect other arriving flights.
Although passports are not usually checked on departing flights, arriving planes are often turned around and on to the next flight within an hour or two. If arrival queues are so long that passengers remain on the runway, departing flights will be delayed and departures may be canceled.
A UK Home Office spokesman said in a statement that “passengers should be prepared for possible disruption”.
The various affected airports have issued warning statements expecting long delays and flight cancellations.
“We expect that airlines will have to cancel some flights on days affected by the strike to match the number of arriving passengers with reduced UK Border Patrol resources,” a Manchester Airport spokesman said in a statement. “Newcomers should also be prepared for the fact that on the days of the strike, lines at immigration control will be much longer due to a reduction in the number of border guards.”
A Heathrow spokesman said: “The Home Office advises that Immigration and Customs Enforcement may take longer at peak times on strike days… Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before traveling,” they added.
Britain’s transport secretary, Baroness Weary, said “the government has mitigation measures in place”, which are expected to include army personnel and volunteers replacing striking staff.
What should I do if I have reserved tickets?
As the strike has just been announced, normal flight cancellation policies still apply (for now), so don’t cancel your flight just yet. However, if your flight is canceled by the airline, which is expected in the coming weeks on many carriers, your normal rights will apply to you, including being able to fly on a different route, even on a different airline if necessary, and to be provided with a hotel if you are staying overnight.
However, it’s worth noting that since Christmas is a peak travel period, in any case, finding extra seats can be difficult due to flight cancellations.
It is not yet clear if, when, and how many flights will be canceled. Cancellations are expected at all major airports, advising passengers to check the status of their flights before travel.
Those planning to travel should expect serious delays at passport control and monitor their flight status in the coming weeks.