Travel news: Heathrow ’super smooth‘ despite Dover disruption as EU lacks e-gates | Politics | News

British holidaymakers have been caught in infinite queues at EU ports and airports over post-Brexit passport checks. Lengthy delays returned to the Port of Dover on Wednesday morning. Ferry operator P&O Ferries warned passengers of „main queues“ and to anticipate a two-hour wait to finish checks earlier than they will board a ship.

It comes after tens of hundreds of households noticed their vacation plans ruined final week attributable to miles of gridlocked site visitors across the Kent port.

This was blamed on a mix of French border management not being totally staffed and a critical crash on the M20 motorway.

P&O Ferries posted on Twitter: „There are presently main queues at border controls in Dover.

„Please permit as much as two hours to finish all checks forward of your crusing.

„If you happen to miss your crusing, or if you happen to full the checks early, we are going to put you on the primary accessible crusing once you test in.“

However evaluating the smoothness of UK airports and border management checks for EU residents arriving to Britain, to the chaos at EU borders, some have lamented the bloc ought to undertake the identical checks‘ procedures as Britain’s.

Arriving at London Heathrow, Italian journalist Antonello Guerrera mentioned: „Sorry if this will disappoint somebody, however I’ve simply arrived at Heathrow, terminal 5.

„Tremendous easy. Time to get out and get by means of the border: actually 39 SECONDS.

„I want France and different European international locations would permit e-gates for UK residents as UK does for EU residents.“

Echoing his feedback, Jonathan Eyal, affiliate director of Rusi, mentioned: „An important level usually ignored within the debate right here.

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„In fact, Brexit has sophisticated border controls, and different international locations have a proper to undertake their very own measures.

„However the UK has indicated that it’s doable to cut back aggravation by permitting EU residents to make use of the e-gates.“

Downing Road mentioned it was vital international locations akin to France had border controls which had been proportionate.

Requested whether or not the UK would really like the French to cease stamping travellers‘ passports, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman mentioned: „Usually talking we now have relationship working with our French counterparts on these juxtaposed controls.

„It’s for, clearly, particular person governments to determine perform checks on the border.

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„Our view is that these must be performed proportionately and sensibly given the nice working relationships that we now have.“

Requested whether or not the UK Authorities believed the French method was proportionate and smart, the spokesman mentioned: „It isn’t for me to move judgment.

„We did see vital enhancements over the weekend the place they deployed extra workers which has considerably diminished congestion, and that’s welcome, and we are going to proceed to have discussions with our French counterparts to make sure that there’s ample planning forward of any improve as we transfer into subsequent weekend.“