Passengers leaving Heathrow Airport this morning are facing security queues of up to 2.5 hours, after 120 security staff reportedly failed to show up for work on one of the busiest travel days of the year so far.
John Arlidge, who is currently at Heathrow Airport, has this report:
Queues snaked around Terminal 5, British Airways’ hub, to wait their turn to go through the handful of security lanes that were open. According to BA check-in staff, 120 security personnel have failed to turn up for work this morning.
It’s a disgrace. It’s like the line with no end,” said David Bennett, waiting with his three children to board a flight to Corfu. “It must be because of the football last night.”
A BA check in agent added: “I went to bed at 12 last night after the game then got up at 2.30 to do my job. Why can’t the security guards?”
Another BA agent added: “This is the first day of the busiest week since lockdown ended because travellers can take a week off and come back next Monday when they will no longer have to self-isolate from most destinations.”
BA staff checked in passengers normally but had to apologise that they would face a long wait to get through to the departure lounge.
Passengers flying business or first class could not use the fast track lane, nor the dedicated Gold wing because its security lane was closed.
