Heathrow chief warns of gridlock in UK Border Agency staff walkout

[dipsydoodle]

Source: The Guardian

Airlines to 'halve capacity' on flights into the UK on 30 November pension strike at request of BAA.

Heathrow airport has asked airlines to halve the capacity on international flights coming in to the UK, triggering rebookings for tens of thousands of passengers, after warning of gridlock due to strikes by UK Border Agency staff on 30 November.

In a letter to carriers using Britain's largest airport, Heathrow's chief operating officer, Normand Boivin, warned of significant disruption and delays to arriving passengers of up to 12 hours. With queues backing up in immigration halls, planes would not be able to disembark passengers and a mass cancellation of later flights would ensue, he said.

"The delays at immigration are likely to be so long that passengers could not be safely accommodated within the terminals and would need to be held on arriving aircraft. This in turn would quickly create gridlock at the airport with no available aircraft parking stands, mass cancellations of departing aircraft and diversions outside the UK for arriving aircraft."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/25/heathrow-chief-gridlock-ukba-strike

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Public sector strike could see Heathrow 'grind to halt'

Heathrow airport has warned airlines that passengers could face 12-hour delays next week when immigration officers go on strike over pensions.

Chief operating officer Norman Boivin said there was a danger of "gridlock".

Heathrow operator BAA has been holding talks with airlines and the UK Border Agency to try to minimise the impact of Wednesday's public sector strike.

PM David Cameron said it was clear there would be an impact at ports and airports but borders would be secure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15884527

[aquart]

1. Get used to it.

The world is waking up and it is grouchy.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Can stay shut for good as far as I'm concerned.

All our other airports and our seaports too. Not for goods though obviously.