passengersfaces travel chaos as e-passport gates have dropped at UK airports.
The problem is likely to cause long delays in passport checksBank holidaystravelers flying into the country, as this applies to all airports using gates.
The Home Office confirmed the news after the system crashed on Friday night - but did not say how long the outage would last.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are aware of an issue with the national border system affecting arrivals to the UK.
"We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and are working with airport operators and airlines to minimize disruption to travellers."
This comes after thousands of people were thrown into chaos as their vacation plans were thrown into chaosBritish Airwayshe was forced to cancel dozensflightson Thursday and Friday after an IT failure.
Key points
Holiday travel chaos as UK electronic passport gates fail
Thousands of tourists hit as British Airways cancels 170 flights after IT failure
RAC warns of 'hot' holiday traffic forecasting 19m leisure trips
Things are going 'as planned' in the 'busy' port of Dover
Holiday travel chaos as UK electronic passport gates fail
10:01,Tary Cobham
Passengers face lengthy delays as e-passport gates down at UK airports.
The issue is likely to cause long delays in passport checks for national holiday travelers flying into the country as all airports using gates are affected.
The Home Office confirmed the news after the system crashed on Friday night - but did not say how long the outage would last.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are aware of an issue with the national border system affecting arrivals to the UK.
"We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and are working with airport operators and airlines to minimize disruption to travellers."
It comes after thousands of people faced chaos in their Christmas plans as British Airways was forced to cancel dozens of flights on Thursday and Friday due to an IT glitch.
Independent travel correspondent warns of wider disruption
10:21,Tary Cobham
Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, warned that the fault could cause more disruption than inconvenience to arriving passengers.
“The entire business model of the UK Border Force - including this weekend's staff - is based on the assumption that the vast majority of arriving passengers can use eGates. In addition to UK nationals, EU citizens, Americans, Australians, Japanese and other nationalities can pass through.
“Simply verifying that a passport is valid and belongs to the presenting traveler is a transaction that eGate technology usually handles easily and efficiently. With this routine burden removed, UK Border Force officers can devote their time to "cases of interest" arriving from overseas.
“But if every arrival has to be checked manually, the processing time increases tremendously, leading to the long queues we see.
“As the flow of arrivals becomes unmanageable in the immigration concourse, passengers may be required to stop on board the aircraft - meaning delays can add up for departing travelers who are unable to board their planes.
"The problem will also affect UK border crossings in France - at Calais, Dunkirk and at the Eurostar terminal at Paris' Gare du Nord."
Saturday, May 27, 2023 00:30,Sam Rkaina
We are pausing our bank holiday breakout livestream but checking back.Independent.co.ukfor the latest updates.
In pictures: Chaos at Heathrow as BA cancels nearly 200 flights
Saturday, May 27, 2023 00:00,marta mchardy
ICYMI: Public holiday chaos with British Airways canceling over 150 flights
Friday, May 26, 2023 23:00,marta mchardy
British Airwayscanceled dozens more flights after an IT outage on Thursday, which was expected to be the busiest day for aviation since 2019.
Independent Cestimates that at least 156 flights, mostly domestic and European, were canceled on Thursday and Friday as BA scrambles to operate without essential systems.
In addition, 14 flights were delayed overnight and are expected to arrive late in the morning after delays of 12 to 16 hours.
Simona Calderareports:
Christmas chaos as more than 150 flights canceled by British Airways
How much damage will this do to British Airways?
Friday, May 26, 2023 22:00,marta mchardy
The financial hit will be millions of pounds: lost revenue from passengers who simply canceled their trips; accommodation and meals costs for customers who have to wait for onward flights; and compensation under European lawair passenger rightsrules.
The damage to BA's reputation is significant; The timing of part-time work at many schools is particularly unfortunate as some families have invested thousands of pounds in holidays which are now at risk.
But because BA has the most seats at Heathrow, the world's most desirable international airport, it retains a huge structural advantage over other airlines and is likely to continue to prosper despite its recent setback.
My flight wasn't cancelled, but I missed my connection and was several hours late. Will I still get compensation?
Friday, May 26, 2023 21:00,marta mchardy
Yes. If you arrive at your final destination three or more hours late, you'll be charged the same cancellation fee (except for long-haul flights that are three to four hours late, for which the fee is £260).
British Airways cancels over 150 flights from Heathrow in latest IT meltdown: what are your rights?
Friday, May 26, 2023 20:09,marta mchardy
You can just cancel and get a refund, but most people will still want to travel despite the cancellation. BA's obligations to you consist of three elements:
Fly as soon as possible on any airline (or train) that can reach your destination as close to the original time as possible. If British Airways is unable to find you a seat on the same day, you will have to look for a flight with another airline.
Meals and, if necessary, hotel accommodation until your departure. British Airways should provide this care, but in practice many passengers defend themselves and then pursue claims during major disruptions.
Cash compensation, which varies from £220 to £520 per person, depending on the length of the flight. Less than 1,500km: £220; 1500-3500 km, 350 lbs; over 3,500 km, £520. Due to the large number of passengers affected, payments are likely to take months, not weeks.
Simona Calderareports:
British Airways cancels over 150 flights due to recent IT meltdown: what are your rights?
Canceled flights and tangled roads throw biggest bank holiday wave of 2019 into chaos
Friday, May 26, 2023 19:00,marta mchardy
With millions of families starting a part-time workweek and many more starting their holiday weekends, travel to and from the UK seems to be in turmoil.
The AA said 17 million drivers will be out on the roads whileBritish Airwayscanceled another 60 flights to and from LondonHeathrow.
Even considering canceled flights due to an IT issue,Friday is expected to be the busiest day for flights to the UKeven before the Covid pandemic.
Simona Calderareports:
Chaos at Heathrow marks the beginning of the biggest Christmas rush since 2019
'Shocking' situation at Heathrow says man who missed Hans Zimmer show due to cancellation
Friday, May 26, 2023 17:56,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
One Briton described the situation at Heathrow as "absolutely shocking" as he and his wife missed film composer Hans Zimmer's performance in Berlin due to the cancellation of a British Airways flight.
Antony Knights, 44, said when problems with a flight to Berlin were reported: "Terminal 5 was in absolute chaos and practically everyone was queuing to talk to the counter, and there were only two members of BA staff there. and no ads. .
“There were only two workers in the line, which was probably about 100 meters long. There were people everywhere who needed help.
“It was very disappointing and frustrating. Things happen from time to time, but this is not the first time British Airways systems have affected people."
Heathrow: British Airways delays intensify with many departures approaching midnight
Friday, May 26, 2023 17:04,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Our travel correspondentSimona Calderareports:
Residents at London Heathrow Airport will have another noisy night due to uncertain British Airways flight schedules.
Normally, the last scheduled passenger flights are at 10:40 p.m.: Avianca to Bogota and Air China to Shanghai. But Thursday night/Friday morning departures continued until 11pm, with one - to Edinburgh - departing after midnight.
The 8.40pm flight from Heathrow to Oslo was scheduled for 11.44pm on Friday, with several other flights delayed by around two hours - including the 8.20pm to Prague. It is due to be operated by an Airbus A319 which has yet to leave Heathrow - but is expected to fly to Budapest and back to London before returning to Central Europe.
"Events like this are getting too familiar"
Friday, May 26, 2023 16:40,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Rory Boland, redaktor dsWhich? Tripmagazine, said: "The bustling holiday season has just begun, but BA is already breaking promises made to its customers to avoid a repeat of last year's travel chaos that has now left thousands of passengers stranded in holiday hell. another computer disaster.
“Events like this become all too familiar. BA has a legal obligation to reimburse or redirect passengers involved in the chaos and travelers should not be ashamed to pursue their rights."
British Airways makes even more cancellations as airline fights to restore flight schedules - close to 200 in total
Friday, May 26, 2023 16:18,Simona Caldera
British Airways has sparked a new wave of early evening flight cancellations from London Heathrow as it struggles to recover from Thursday's IT outage.
Five domestic flights to Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle have been canceled in the last hour.
European destinations also hit, including early evening flights to Venice, Prague, Stuttgart and Zurich.
The latest round of cancellations brings the total number of flights canceled due to the latest IT glitch to nearly 200.
Cancellation BA: What rights do you have?
Friday, May 26, 2023 15:50,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Once again, British Airways' operation at Heathrow Airport is in disarray due to an IT glitch.
You can just cancel and get a refund, but most people will still want to travel despite the cancellation. BA's obligations to you consist of three elements:
Fly as soon as possible on any airline (or train) that can reach your destination as close to the original time as possible. If British Airways is unable to find you a seat on the same day, you will have to look for a flight with another airline.
Meals and, if necessary, hotel accommodation until your departure. British Airways should provide this care, but in practice many passengers defend themselves and then pursue claims during major disruptions.
Cash compensation, which varies from £220 to £520 per person, depending on the length of the flight. Less than 1,500km: £220; 1500-3500 km, 350 lbs; over 3,500 km, £520. Due to the large number of passengers affected, payments are likely to take months, not weeks.
Our travel correspondentSimona CalderaMore details can be found in this explanation:
British Airways cancels over 150 flights due to recent IT meltdown: what are your rights?
The usual suspects: Edinburgh, Milan and Geneva top the BA appeals table
Friday, May 26, 2023 15:22,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Our travel correspondentSimona Calderahas this unique analysis:
Passengers with British Airways bookings between London Heathrow and Edinburgh have experienced 10 cancellations in the last 24 hours as a result of the latest IT glitch.
Of the total of 23 flights each way between the Scottish capital and Heathrow on Thursday and Friday, 43% were grounded.
One of the departing planes was so late that it took off from Heathrow on the wrong day. BA1440 was due to take off at 9.15pm on Thursday but took off shortly after midnight on Friday, arriving in Edinburgh at 1am.
Milan also had 10 cancellations but split between Linate (six) and Malpensa (four).
Eight out of 23 scheduled flights to Geneva were suspended - 31% of the total.
Three airports each had six cancellations: Belfast City, Nice and Paris CDG.
When British Airways is forced to ground a large number of flights, it tends to target high-frequency routes.
However, some holiday flights with limited alternatives have been hit. One of three flights from Heathrow to Faro in Portugal's Algarve and one of four to Malaga on Spain's Costa del Sol were canceled on Friday.
The Port of Dover says waiting times for ferries are improving
Friday, May 26, 2023 14:57,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Officials said things were going "as planned" at the Port of Dover as wait times for buses and private cars had slowed in recent hours.
Whereas previously it was said that cars and buses stand in queues of 90 and 60 minutes respectively, now waiting times have been reduced to 30 and 40 minutes.
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Watch: The holiday weekend could bring 2023's hottest day yet
Friday, May 26, 2023 14:20,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
The number of British Airways Heathrow flights canceled has risen to 170
Friday, May 26, 2023 14:02,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
By midday, the number of British Airways short-haul flight cancellations to and from Heathrow had risen to 60 on Friday, our travel correspondent reportsSimona Caldera.
With 110 cancellations by BA on Thursday and a flight to Heathrow on Friday morning, further cancellations bring the total to 170.
BA canceled several flights to and from major holiday destinations, including four flights between Heathrow and Athens and six flights to and from Nice.
Geneva and Milan also had six cancellations each. Edinburgh commuters have seen a dozen flights to and from Heathrow grounded in the last 24 hours.
BA must purchase tickets from a competitor airline for passengers who are disrupted to get them to their destinations on the same day as the original booking, if seats are available. But at the beginning of the half-day week, many schools and the bank holiday weekend have few vacancies.
Full report: Chaos at Heathrow and tangled roads mark start of biggest Christmas rush since 2019
Friday, May 26, 2023 13:43,Simona Caldera
With millions of families starting a part-time workweek and many more starting their holiday weekends, travel to and from the UK seems to be in turmoil.
The AA said 17 million drivers will hit the road, while British Airways has canceled dozens of flights to and from London Heathrow, and AA expects 17 million drivers to hit the road.
Even with canceled flights due to IT issues, Friday must be the busiest day for flights from the UK since pre-Covid.
Read the full report here:
Chaos at Heathrow marks the beginning of the biggest Christmas rush since 2019
Where are transit delays expected?
Friday, May 26, 2023 13:24,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Major delays could be experienced on major routes, according to traffic analyst Inrix.
Friday's busiest times are expected to be between 11am and 2pm, with the M5 between Bristol and Taunton likely to see particularly heavy traffic.
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, there will be the most traffic on the roads between 14:00 and 19:00. The M25 will be under pressure, especially anti-clockwise from Junction 4 to the Dartford Crossing.
The M6 motorway in Cheshire and Lancashire is expected to be congested on Sunday afternoon.
(Video) Bank Holiday Travel Chaos!
Contingency plans seem to be working in Dover
Friday, May 26, 2023 13:08,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
NODover, Wherethe first weekend of the Easter school holiday was marked by long coach delaystraveling to France, contingency plans seem to be working, our correspondent reportsSimona Caldera.
Buses depart from the main port but checks are carried out quickly once they reach the French border.
The port says cruise cars will wait 90 minutes and buses an hour. After Brexit, a strict EU border was imposed at the port and all British travelers had to go through security checks and have their passports stamped.
Truck traffic is controlled to limit tourist delays.
“Many uselessly went to the airport”
Friday, May 26, 2023 12:51,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Rory Boland, redaktor dsWhich? Tripreleased its opinion on cancellations this morning, after noting that "British Airways' annual IT meltdown seems to be coming just in time."
He writes: "BA didn't give passengers too many warnings, if any at all, many traveling to the airport to no avail, which makes it that much more frustrating."
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Delays have been reported on the M3 as traffic jams begin
Friday, May 26, 2023 12:38,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Here's a road update from our Assistant Travel EditorBenjamin Parker:
Delays on the M3 motorway were at least 10 minutes, with the collision at junction 13 (north) only contributing to this. Those seeking other routes such as Eastleigh are being warned there are 20-minute delays in the city.
M3 traffic is supported both ways on the M27, with 15-minute queues.
A bottleneck on the A27 at Arundel is causing delays and in the Brighton and Hove area there are reports of slow or blocked traffic on the A27 with queues forming.
As for the M25, the UK's busiest road, there are several places where there are traffic jams, including at mile 10 junction 10 (A3/Guildford) due to congestion. Traffic jams also occur near junction 15 (for the M4 motorway) and junction 16 for the M40 motorway on both sides of the road.
Heathrow security staff strike overshadowed by BA appeals
Friday, May 26, 2023 12:13,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Our travel correspondentSimona Calderacontains the latest information on protest actions in the tourism sector:
Partly as a result of British Airways' cancellations, the second day of the security strike at Terminal 5, BA's main base, is having little effect.
At other major airports, travel was smooth - major issues in Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow were cancellations of BA flights to and from Heathrow.
Employees working at Edinburgh Airport have voted overwhelmingly to go on a pay strike, but no class action has yet been called.
The Unite union is clearly hoping airport bosses will come back with an improved deal - but warns of summer "travel chaos" if a closure occurs. The airport says it has already made a "fair and generous" salary offer.
BA cancellation will cost many millions - but not on the scale of the 2017 bank holiday IT outage
Friday, May 26, 2023 12:03,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Our travel correspondentSimona Calderareports:
BA's cancellations are not on the scale of a bank holiday in late May 2017, when another IT glitch led to the airline suspending all operations at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. But the cost of lost revenue, hotel costs and passenger compensation will be many millions of pounds.
Tourists forced to queue at airports due to cancellations over busy bank holiday weekend
Friday, May 26, 2023 11:26,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Tourists line up at airports this morning as British Airways flight cancellations hit what was expected to be the busiest weekend for aviation since 2019.
Here are the queues at Manchester Airport Terminal 2:
At Heathrow Terminal 5, passengers waited in long lines to rebook as British Airways canceled dozens of flights.
The DVLA issues an urgent health warning for UK drivers
Friday, May 26, 2023 11:14,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
With millions of drivers expected to hit the road this holiday weekend, the Vehicle and Driver Licensing Agency (DVLA) is expected to update its guidance for drivers with vision problems "within a few weeks".
The agency is said to have made the change after the Association of Optometrists (AOP) "reported serious concerns" over a list of reported conditions published last year. He claimed it was "so extensive that it could apply to almost all drivers who submit to an eye test."
In response, the AOP states that the DVLA has agreed to amend the list and that updated guidance will be published "in the coming weeks".
Oliver Pritchard-Joneshas a full report:
The DVLA issues an urgent health warning for UK drivers
One hour waiting time for cars and tour buses in the "busy" Port of Dover
Friday, May 26, 2023 11:03,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
The Port of Dover is "busy", as predicted, but handles traffic "well", with hourly queues for coaches and coaches waiting to cross the English Channel.
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Here are some photos from the port:
17 million drivers are expected to hit the road as fuel prices fall, says the AA
Friday, May 26, 2023 10:31,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
In a slightly lower forecast than the RAC, the AA expects 17 million drivers to hit the roads this weekend as drivers take advantage of lower fuel prices.
“With fuel in some areas at its lowest since October 2021, many drivers may want to take advantage of the price drop and hit the road. This, coupled with half-day school holidays, is likely to lead to roads being much busier than usual, particularly around attractions and theme parks, the AA said.
"For those lucky enough to travel overseas, major ports, particularly Dover, where Operation Brock is underway, as well as Portsmouth and Hull, will see an increase in traffic so it's important to plan ahead by checking for travel updates and keeping plenty of food and drinking in the car in case of long delays.
Luke Bosdet, the AA's fuel price spokesman, added: "Lower prices at filling stations, with average diesel this week down 50p from last summer's peak to under 150p a liter and petrol normally at 143p a litre. liter, will not only encourage more holiday drivers to use the road. but make sure more of your spending goes to tourism and not the fuel trade.
"That said, the often huge price swings depending on where you fill up will push many drivers around the corner."
RAC warns maintenance costs could have 'preventable failures' in 'hectic' weekend
Friday, May 26, 2023 10:20,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
The RAC has warned that the cost of living crisis could cause more breakdowns on what it said was the busiest bank holiday weekend in late May on UK roads since before the pandemic.
"With so many families in financial distress, we are concerned that a lack of essential maintenance could lead to more preventable outages than usual," said RAC spokesman Rod Dennis.
"So we're reminding everyone to make sure their cars are as runaway as possible - if your vehicle hasn't been serviced recently, this is the week to have it serviced by a qualified professional.
He added: “Whether your car has been recently serviced or not, a quick check of oil and coolant levels, as well as making sure your tires are in good condition and properly inflated, can go a long way towards avoiding an unwanted stop on the side of the road. this weekend."
RAC warns motorists on busiest public holiday in late May as of 2019
Friday, May 26, 2023 10:12,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Motoring group RAC has warned of a "busy period on major roads" as drivers are expected to make more than 19 million leisure trips over the bank holiday weekend, the most since 2019.
RAC fall spokesman Rod Dennis said: "With travel restrictions imposed during Covid now thankfully a distant memory, it's clear that drivers' desire to get away has been rekindled with our numbers for the coming weekdays, suggesting that traffic volumes are on the rise for recreational purposes it will be close to what we saw last time. in 2019
"With the Met Office now forecasting stable weather with above-average temperatures, we expect it to be a busy time on major roads as people want to make the most of the last long weekend before August - and that means it's going to be a busy time for our patrols too.
What does British Airways say about cancellations?
Friday, May 26, 2023 10:09,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
British Airways blamed the "caused effect of a technical problem" on the cancellation of dozens of flights on Friday.
A spokesperson said: "While the vast majority of our flights will continue to operate today, we have canceled some of our short-haul flights from Heathrow due to the knock-on effect of the technical issue we experienced yesterday.
"We apologize to customers whose flights have been affected and offer them the option to rebook to an alternative flight with us or another carrier, or to request a refund."
The airline tells passengers: "We are aware of a technical issue that we are working hard on. Due to the high volume of calls, please contact us only if you are traveling within the next 48 hours."
British Airways cancels dozens more flights after IT failure
Friday, May 26, 2023 10:08,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
British Airways canceled dozens more flights after an IT glitch on Thursday, which was expected to be the busiest day for aviation since 2019, our travel correspondent reportsSimona Caldera.
Independentestimates that at least 156 flights, mostly domestic and European, were canceled on Thursday and Friday as BA scrambles to operate without essential systems.
In addition, 14 flights were delayed overnight and are expected to arrive late in the morning after delays of 12 to 16 hours.
With many planes full at the start of the holiday weekend, the number of passengers affected is likely to reach 25,000 - with many more serious delays and/or missed connections.
Fifty-five short-haul flights were suspended on Thursday afternoon and evening, and 21 return flights were also suspended on Thursday.
By Friday morning, 36 flights had been canceled due to incorrect seating of planes and pilots on Thursday evening. In addition, British Airways suspended a new wave of 46 flights from Friday, including to and from Athens, Warsaw, Reykjavik and Tirana.
Christmas chaos as more than 150 flights canceled by British Airways
Friday, May 26, 2023 10:01,Andy'ego Gregory'ego
Good morning and helloIndependentpublic holiday travel blog which we will use to provide the latest updates.