Authorities said a computer malfunction today affected the automated passport control system and caused significant delays for travelers arriving at airports in the UK, particularly in London.
On social networks too, many travelers have complained of having to wait several hours before being able to pass through immigration controls, in the middle of the long weekend.
London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports cited a national problem affecting UK Border Police ‘e-gates’, which allow automatic passage through checks.
“Our teams are working closely with Border Police to resolve the issue as quickly as possible,” Heathrow Airport management posted on its website, adding that more staff were being mobilized to manage queues. and passenger assistance.
The UK has over 270 e-gates across 15 facilities and is available to travelers aged 12 or over, whether they are British, EU nationals or from several other countries (including Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan or the US) . .
A spokeswoman for the British Home Office said: “We are aware that we have a national problem affecting arrivals in the United Kingdom,” adding that they are “working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, in cooperation with operators and airlines to reduce problems for travelers.”
Long queues were also reported this morning to board ships crossing the English Channel via the port of Dover (southeast England) due to a computer problem at passport control at the French border, a problem that has already been resolved according to Twitter.
According to the same publication, the problem “has been solved”, as the waiting time in the middle of the day was estimated to be between 30 and 45 minutes, compared to 90 minutes in the morning.
The disruptions come after British Airways had to cancel 175 flights between Thursday and Friday due to a technical problem, according to the British PA agency.
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