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British Airways aircraft in London (archive)
Photo: John Sibley / REUTERS
Due to a failure of electronic passport control at British airports, passengers currently have to expect long queues when entering the UK. The problems with the so-called e-gates had already begun on Friday evening, including at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports, the BBC reported.
A spokeswoman for the UK Home Office's Borders, Customs and Immigration Workers' Union warned that queues were forming "very, very quickly" at the moment. Depending on the airport, 60 to 80 percent of travelers usually passed through e-gates. Their passports would now have to be checked manually, which would take time.
"We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and are in contact with port operators and airlines to minimize disruption to travelers," the BBC quoted a spokesman for the British Home Office as saying.
Scan & Face Recognition
At the port of Dover, there had also been IT problems before, but in the other direction. During the control to leave the UK, the French passport control system had failed in the meantime and had caused queues.
The British airline British Airways had already cancelled several flights at London's Heathrow Airport before the Whitsun weekend due to IT problems. At times, the IT systems were completely paralyzed. Connections within Great Britain and Europe were particularly affected.
Electronic passport control can be used by Britons over the age of twelve, as well as citizens of the EU and some other countries, including Australia, Canada, the USA, Japan and New Zealand. Travellers can scan their passports themselves. In order to verify their identity, electronic facial recognition is used. In addition, they are photographed as they pass through the gate.
RAI/DPA