Birmingham Airport: Border Force strikes will not affect flights

Flights will operate as scheduled on the days when Border Force employees go on strike, the airport has said.

The Midlands travel hub has advised passengers on what they can expect during the strikes which are taking place on December 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, and 30.

It said all departing passengers to all destinations will be unaffected and arriving passengers from the Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands will also be unaffected.

All scheduled flights will operate in and out of #BHX on upcoming Border Force strike days.

• all departing passengers will be unaffected
• arriving passengers may have slightly longer wait times
• plans in place to keep everyone moving

For more 👉 https://t.co/mdaYTbJtke pic.twitter.com/zgHxIkmWnQ

— Birmingham Airport (@bhx_official) December 12, 2022

Border Force employees at Birmingham Airport set to strike in December

Arriving passengers with biometric (UK and EU) passports will need to use the electronic border gates as normal but should expect some delays, especially at peak times.

Arriving passengers without biometric passports should join the queue for face-to-face processing by border officials and expect a slightly longer wait than normal at peak times.

It’s important to note that passengers under 12 cannot use electronic gates.

What happens if you miss your flight due to airport delays

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.” 

🎄 Flying at Christmas? 🎄 Please arrive on time for check in opening time and ensure you are prepared for security - all liquids gels and pastes must be in containers of less than 100ml, placed in a sealed clear bag measuring no more than 20cm x 20cm ✈️ #helpushelpyou pic.twitter.com/2GZTEbIU4e

— Birmingham Airport (@bhx_official) December 12, 2022

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 as effectively as possible on strike days.

Birmingham Airport customer service teams will be on hand to help keep people moving as swiftly as possible and they’ll direct people into the correct queues.

You can find out more about Birmingham Airport via its website.