Travelers expressed frustration on social media as Covid checks, heavy passenger traffic and reported staff shortages and gateway problems meant long waits for check-in in Heathrow. The airport confirmed that “some congestion” was affecting Terminal 2. In a statement, a spokesman said: congestion today. “Our teams support our airline partners to remove passengers on their journeys as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience caused.” At Manchester Airport, which has struggled to cope with delays in recent weeks, a spokesman apologized to passengers, saying: “As we recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, our entire industry is facing staff shortages and challenges. As a result, we advise customers that safety queues may be longer than usual and encourage them to arrive as soon as their airline suggests. “We are exploring a number of short-term measures to offer the best possible service we can, such as using a personal agency and different ways in which existing colleagues can support our operation.” Tourist traffic near the port of Dover was again “free” on Sunday, as roads on Saturday affected ferry users, with some drivers stuck in nine-hour queues. The suspension of P&O services, with three of the company’s ships moored in Dover, had been partly blamed for the long queues. The unfavorable weather conditions in the Channel and the congestion in Kent caused by the Easter escape are also said to have contributed to the traffic jam. Drivers were forced to wait for hours on Saturday to board a ferry after measures were taken to control the movement of heavy vehicles in the area. Under Operation Brock, trucks heading to Dover are allowed to use one side of the M20 while all other traffic is restricted to a reverse flow system on the opposite side. The National Road reported that the M20 remained closed with the operation continuing on Sunday “due to the continuing reduced capacity of the ferries in the port”. The situation between the canals received another blow when a DFDS ferry, Dover Seaways, hit an anchor with strong winds on Thursday. The DFDS said in a statement that the vessel was being inspected prior to repairs and is expected to return to service on Monday or Tuesday. Richard Ballantyne, head of the British Ports Association, said on Sunday that the situation had improved, but that delays were likely to continue beyond the weekend. He told the BBC Breakfast on Sunday: “East Kent and Kent’s police and well-established Dover Harbor Group predict that this will continue for another two days, but it is something we simply are not doing. “I do not know how long it will last.”
