London 2012 Olympics: Four hour airport queues 'can't be ruled out'Reported by Metro.co.uk on Tuesday, 22 May 2012 (on May 22, 2012)
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*Queues at immigration and airport security of up to four hours cannot be ruled out at the London 2012 Olympics, the head of the UK Border Force has admitted.*
Queues of over two hours were reported at Heathrow Airport passport control over Easter (Picture: PA)
Brian Moore, director general of the border agency, told MPs that although he believes staffing levels would be able to deal with an anticipated surge of arrivals, he could not guarantee there would be no delays.
'I do not anticipate seeing large queues of two, three and four hours because of the work we are doing to move our resources,' he said.
'However, there will always be circumstances beyond our control.'
Mr Moore repeatedly declined to tell the Commons Home Affairs Committee what he believed to be a 'reasonable' wait at immigration but claimed travellers accepted a time of around 25 minutes.
'Most people find that 25-minute mark to be not unreasonable,' he said.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Ed Miliband has called for industrial action to be avoided during the Games, as Unite the union prepared to ballot 21,000 bus drivers over potential strike action in a row over pay.
After a visit to the Olympic Park with members of his shadow cabinet, Mr Miliband said: 'I don't want to see industrial action during the Olympics.
'The Olympics are a great thing for London and a great thing for Britain. We have the chance to inspire young people into sport.'
He added: 'There may be extra strain on public sector workers. What's really important is that there isn't industrial action.'
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