Airlines using British airports have warned the home secretary that the country “risks gridlock” over Easter due to staff shortages.
British Airways and Virgin Airlines are among 11 firms that have written to Theresa May in anticipation of “unacceptable” delays to hundreds of thousands of passengers travelling over the long weekend.
The UK Border Agency is under fire for a lack of staff able to carry out full security checks, which the airlines say must result in a recruitment drive or the relaxing of some of the more stringent measures in place.
A spokeswoman for Virgin Airlines said: “While the decision on what level of check should be made at the border is, of course, a matter for government, we are concerned that there is currently a mismatch between policy and resource.
“After years of reducing frontline staff, returning to a 100 per cent check system will undoubtedly mean lengthy queues at UK airports over critical holiday periods.” – (PA)