Heathrow owner hits immigration waiting time

The owner of Heathrow Airport says border control officers are failing to meet their waiting time targets for non-EU passengers but are hitting the mark for carriers of EU passports.

BAA Ltd. said Thursday that immigration officers had done worst at Terminal 5, the center of British Airways operations and the busiest terminal at the airport. British Airways has been vocal in criticizing the long waiting times some arriving passengers have endured.

BAA's says 76 percent of non-EU passengers were cleared through Terminal 5 within 45 minutes, well short of the target of 95 percent.

However, BAA says 98 percent of EU passengers were getting through immigration at Terminal 5 within 25 minutes, and other terminals scored even higher.


The Associated Press