Heathrow Airport travellers wait 'up to six hours' in immigration queues

15 April 2021, 08:04 | Updated: 15 April 2021, 12:01

Heathrow boss Chris Garton says queues at the airport are "untenable"
Heathrow boss Chris Garton says queues at the airport are "untenable". Picture: PA Images
Ewan Quayle

By Ewan Quayle

Travellers arriving at Heathrow are being forced to queue for "up to six hours" due to coronavirus checks at the border, an airport executive has said.

Chief solutions officer at the airport Chris Garton, told MPs that "the situation is becoming untenable" as people are made to submit to additional Covid-19 checks and screening when arriving.

Giving evidence to the Commons Transport Select Committee, he explained that wait times in recent days have typically been "well in excess of two hours and up to six hours".

READ MORE: Huge crowds at Heathrow Airport 'incredibly worrying', shadow health secretary says

He said: "We're starting to see disruption in some of the arriving passengers.

"If you're made to queue for two or three hours, it's not something you want to do, and we're even having to involve the police service to help us."

Heathrow has been troubled with long queues for years
Heathrow has been troubled with long queues for years. Picture: PA Images

Mr Garton went on: "What's happened is a whole host of new checks - 100% checking of everybody - has been introduced, and that obviously has put a tremendous burden on the officers who work at the border.

"The Home Office has not provided them with additional officers."

He told the committee the amount of resources for processing passengers at the border "always was a problem" but the pandemic "has just made that so much worse than it was before".

He continued: "We want to see that bottleneck removed as quickly as possible. It's a problem today, it will become a much bigger problem after May 17 (when foreign leisure travel from England could resume)."

Mr Garton said the "solution" is to enable passengers to ensure their entry to the UK is "assured" before they begin their journey.

Heathrow Airport has implemented strict Covid checks in its terminals
Heathrow Airport has implemented strict Covid checks in its terminals. Picture: PA Images

Errors on passenger locator forms should be spotted and corrected in advance, and eGates should be able to check the documents automatically, he told MPs.

This would allow arriving travellers to "flow as you would normally through the eGates rather than having to line up and present your paperwork to a rather overstretched border official", Mr Garton added.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman defended the queues, saying Border Force is "completing thorough checks of every arriving passenger" which is "the approach the public would expect".

He added that the Government will ensure there are "sufficient measures there and resources available" when international leisure travel resumes.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are in a global health pandemic – people should not be travelling unless absolutely necessary.

"Border Force has ensured it has the right level of resources to check that passengers are compliant with our border health measures, but queues and wait times will currently be longer as we undertake these vital checks to keep us all safe.

"Delay also occur due to the fact that some passengers have not completed the necessary requirements to enter the UK, such as purchasing Covid testing packages or booking their hotel quarantine in advance."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Victims of the infected blood scandal have been "left in the dark" about when they will receive compensation a year after a sweeping inquiry report was published, Andy Burnham has said.

Victims of infected blood scandal ‘left in the dark’ about compensation, Andy Burnham says

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident in Stoke Poges on Thursday evening.

Three arrested as police officer fighting for his life in hospital after car crash while he was on duty

Silhouette of teacher writing on whiteboard in classroom

Christian teacher sacked after refusing to use trans pupil’s preferred pronouns loses religious discrimination case

Jurgen Klopp holding a Trent Alexander-Arnold Liverpool shirt during the LFC Foundation Ball at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

'I turned off my telly' - Jurgen Klopp ‘never been so disappointed’ in fans after they booed Trent Alexander-Arnold

The front of the house was almost completely burnt out.

'Absolutely devastating' - Three children and one woman die in London house fire as man arrested on suspicion of murder

Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on May 23, 2025.

Israeli troops 'forcing Palestinians to act as human shields in Gaza', soldiers and ex detainees say

Home Office UK Visas and Immigration office sign Cardiff Wales UK

Nigerian drug dealer’s deportation case to be reheard after Home Office 'mistake'

London UK - Jun 22 2024: Envirnomental campaigner, former pop star and punk rocker Fergal Sharkey at the Restore Nature Now march for environmental pr

Feargal Sharkey reveals prostate cancer diagnosis after going to doctor for sore throat

Damage is seen to a residential building after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 24, 2025.

Drones and missiles batter Kyiv in 'large-scale attack' hours after Ukraine-Russia prisoner swap

A Jewish man (not pictured) was arrested and charged with "racially aggravated harassment" after holding a placard at a counter-demonstration depicting a Hezbollah leader.

Jewish protester charged with ‘racial harassment’ over anti-Hezbollah sign

Ivan Toney, who has earned a recall to the England squad for forthcoming games against Andorra and Senegal.

Thomas Tuchel expects England squad to 'suffer' in the heat at 2026 World Cup

Dogs led the pack, making up £933 million in claims, followed by cats at £232 million, and £61 million for other pets.

Record high £1.23 billion paid out in pet insurance claims in 2024, data reveals

Miley Cyrus has said she believes that rolling around on the Hollywood Walk of Fame led to a "brutal infection" on her knee.

Miley Cyrus reveals she may have 'caught a brutal infection' while 'rolling around on the Hollywood Walk of Fame'

Starmer fire

Keir Starmer arson attacks ‘potentially linked to Russia’ as officials investigate

The scheme is expected to be expanded nationally to dozens of locations as part of a 10-year NHS plan.

NHS to open more ‘mental health A&Es’ to relieve pressure on hospitals

Antonio Guterres

UN chief accuses Israel of only allowing a 'teaspoon' of aid into Gaza following 11-week blockade