Border Force strikes ‘to affect up to 1.8 million passengers’

Cirium estimates that between 23-26 and 28-31 December, the airports affected by industrial action are scheduled to see a total of 8,910 arrivals – equating to 1,789,448 seats.
 
Friday 23 December will be the busiest day for arriving flights at Birmingham, Glasgow and Gatwick, while Friday 30 December will be the busiest at Manchester, Cirium estimates.

In total, Heathrow is set to see a maximum of 915,365 arriving passengers during the strike days, with Gatwick 421,745 and Manchester 265,847.

Border Force chief operating officer Steve Dann has warned some airports may have to close during the dispute despite Army and civil service personnel being drafted in.

He said on Wednesday: “We have a reasonable expectation that we will be able to deliver a service that keeps most if not all ports open,” but admitted: “Our contingency workforce will not be able to operate with the same efficiency.”