Flights to operate as “normal” on Border Force strike days

Birmingham Airport has said its flights will operate as scheduled on days when Border Force employees go on strike.

Workers are set to strike between 23rd and 26th December, and from 28th to 31st December, after the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) says it has “tried for months to negotiate with the government”.

Birmingham Airport bosses have said departing passengers will be unaffected, alongside those arriving from Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands will be unaffected. Whilst arriving passengers with and UK and EU passports can expect some delays especially at peak times.

Those without biometric passports can expect a “slightly longer wait” to be processed face-to-face by officials.

A contingency team of Ministry of Defence personnel will cover absent Border Force workers at Birmingham Airport to keep the immigration and customs process working.

Nick Barton, chief executive of Birmingham Airport, said: “Throughout the Border Force strike period, we and our airlines partners will operate our normal schedule of flights both in and out of Birmingham Airport. 

“The Border Force strike will not affect any departing passengers, irrespective of destination, and for inbound passengers we have mitigation plans which aim to make their entry into the UK as swift and easy as possible.”