Business leaders fear the return of ‘Heathrow hassle’
08.11.11
Business leaders have urged the government to improve queuing times at passport control at Heathrow before next summer’s Olympics, fearing the issue will damage tourism and the UK’s reputation as a commercial centre, the Financial Times reports. Public sector unions have warned that the reimposition of full security checks at the airport is likely to lead to queues increasing again.
Two - three hour waits for visitors from outside the European Union were experienced at peak times from May, after staff cuts at the UK Border Agency. The newspaper reports that BAA, Heathrow’s operator, has been warning the Border Agency for some time that peak-time waits were 'out of hand'. Business leaders fear the situation will get worse with the strict controls reintroduced.
A representative of the Immigration Service Union told the Financial Times there was ‘no question’ the controversy would add to staff workloads and only add to delays faced by travellers.
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