UK: British Airways system outage causes chaos at Heathrow Airport
Passengers are facing travel chaos as e-passport gates have been closed across UK airports.
This issue could cause long delays in passport control for bank holiday travelers flying into the country as all airports using the gates are affected.
The Home Office confirmed the news after the system went down Friday night – but did not say how long the error would last.
One passenger described the scene at Edinburgh Airport as a ‘chaos’, reporting that more than 300 people lined up for passport checks on Friday night.
Another spoke of “total chaos” at Gatwick Airport’s passport control area, with “queues lasting over an hour” due to the e-passport gate crashing.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are aware of a nationwide border system issue affecting people arriving in the UK.
“We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and are liaising with port operators and airlines to minimize disruption for travellers.”
This comes after thousands of people have faced their bank holiday plans in disarray, as British Airways was forced to cancel many flights on Thursday and Friday following an IT outage.
Fault with e-passport system at UK airports causing lengthy delays
Issues with electronic passport gates at UK airports have caused lengthy delays for people arriving in the country as the bank holiday unfolds.
Travelers have described queues on social media lasting several hours at several airports including Heathrow and Gatwick as arrivals need to have their passports checked by hand instead of automated machines.
The problems come as millions of people are expected to take to the streets and public transport this weekend.
A tourist to Heathrow posted on Twitter: “Just landed in utter chaos. 2 hour queue just to get to the real queue. The gate is broken.”
Another passenger at Gatwick described the situation as a “complete joke”.
Passengers queuing at Gatwick Airport as e-passport gates do not work across the UK
(Beautiful pictures)
Joe MiddletonMay 27, 2023 18:29
Photo: Queues at UK airports after the passport e-gate system crashed
Passengers line up at Gatwick Airport as e-passport gates go offline across the UK on 27 May 2023
(Beautiful pictures)
People line up as they arrive at Heathrow Airport in London, Saturday, May 27, 2023
(AP)
Joe MiddletonMay 27, 2023 20:30
How many cars will hit the road during the May bank holiday weekend?
The RAC estimates that drivers across the UK will make 19.2 million recreational car trips between Friday and Monday, making it the busiest late-May bank holiday since 2019 .
Transport data firm Inrix warns that journeys on some sections of the M25 will be up to three times longer than usual.
These include clockwise from Junction 23 for Hatfield to Junction 28 for Chelmsford and counterclockwise towards Dartford Crossing.
Prolonged delays are also expected on the M5 in Somerset and the M6 in Cheshire and Greater Manchester.
Joe MiddletonMay 27, 2023 20:00
Prolonged delays at Gatwick Airport Passport checks following nationwide shutdown for e-Passport portals
Prolonged delays at Gatwick Airport Passport checks following nationwide shutdown for e-Passport portals
Joe MiddletonMay 27, 2023 19:30
What have the airports said about the lengthy delays?
A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said the problem started Friday night but queues had eased on Saturday morning.
He said: “Some passengers may experience delays in entry due to a nationwide issue with the UK Border Force portal.
“Our staff are working with UK Border Force – who operate passport control including the electronic gate – to assist passengers as needed.”
Heathrow Airport posted on Twitter: “We are aware of a nationwide issue affecting eGate operated by Border Force.
“This issue is affecting a number of ports of entry and is not exclusive to Heathrow Airport.
“Our teams are working closely with Border Force to help resolve the issue as quickly as possible, and we have additional colleagues to manage queues and provide passenger welfare. We apologize for any impact this has had on passengers’ journeys.”
Joe MiddletonMay 27, 2023 19:00
Travel chaos precedes strikes affecting Gatwick Express
The travel chaos at airports across the UK, including Gatwick, comes ahead of strike action affecting Gatwick Express over the next week.
There will be no Gatwick Express trains on May 31 and June 3, while a revised schedule will apply on June 1 and a limited service on June 2.
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 17:47
Queues are seen at Gatwick Airport
Passengers line up at Gatwick Airport as e-passport gates go offline across the UK
(Beautiful pictures)
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 17:09
‘A scene of complete chaos’
One visitor to Heathrow reported “utter chaos”, while another described the situation at Gatwick as a “complete joke”.
One passenger posted on Twitter: “Just landed, witnessed extreme chaos. 2 hours in line just to get to the actual queue. Broken gate.”
While another described the situation in Gatwick as a “complete joke”.
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 16:28
Passengers say passport control is ‘unbelievable’ and ‘sweltering hot’
“Unbelievable” and “sweltering hot” was how one passenger described their experience at passport control at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Chris O’Hara added: “Welcome to modern Britain.”
He wrote on social media: “2am, Gatwick North Terminal passport control. Unbelievable. Welcome to modern England.
“And of course, the air conditioning was off, so it was stifling hot.”
“Unbelievable” and “sweltering hot” was how one passenger described their experience at a passport check at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Saturday morning
(Chris O’Hara)
Passengers are facing travel chaos as e-passport gates have descended across UK airports
(Chris O’Hara)
Tara CobhamMay 27, 2023 15:47
