Border Force are planning to digitally link holidaymakers’ coronavirus documents to their passports, to reduce lengthy airport queues by mid-summer.
Officials are working to re-open automated e-passport gates as a priority, as they are seen as essential to streamlining the arrivals process once international travel resumes next month, The Times reports.
Last week, Chief solutions officer at Heathrow Airport Chris Garton said six-hour queues were already an issue and looked to get worse after 17 May.
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International travel will remain banned until at least 17 May under the lockdown roadmap in England.
All passengers currently arriving in the UK must have proof of a negative Covid test from the three days before travel and have filled out a passenger locator form with details of where they will quarantine for 10 days upon arrival and their travel test package booking reference number.
Border force staff are currently required by the Home Office to check all paperwork from arriving passengers and the strict checks are causing massive delays…
