British holidaymakers are hit by 'five hour' delays at Calais border controls with no explanation of why logjam has been caused
- Have YOU experienced delays? Email megan.howe@mailonline.co.uk
British holidaymakers have been hit by 'five-hour' delays at Calais border controls with no explanation from French authorities as to why the logjam has been caused.
Families returning to the UK have experienced severe delays at the French border, with people waiting for hours to board coaches and ferries.
Today it has been reported there is a five-hour wait time for coaches at border controls and that customers would be transferred at the next available crossing.
One mother said: 'My son has been stuck on his school coach for hours, add on the journey to the port and they’ve been on the coach for over 8hrs, they’re running out of drinks and phone battery. This is a disgrace.'
Another person said: 'We have been on the coach for over 27 hours now. It's an absolute disgrace from the port authorities to allow such a huge build up. Nobody has any water left. We are about to miss a 4th ferry.'
Over the weekend, drivers faced mammoth queues of up to 12 hours as they waited to board ferries home from Calais to Kent.
A spokeswoman for the Port of Calais told KentOnline that issues were due to 'delays at border controls' and that teams were doing their 'utmost to give travellers the best possible welcome'.
But as it stands, holidaymakers have not been told why they are facing such long delays, with some referring to the scenes as 'carnage'.
Queues in the Port of Calais as families battle to get onto ferries home
Passengers queue for ferries at the Port of Dover in Kent over the Easter weekend. Picture taken on March 29, 2024
One mother told the local newspaper that she arrived at the port at 4pm on Friday, May 31, in order to get on the 7pm boat, but was instead given an allotted time of 9.05pm to cross the Channel.
She told KentOnline: 'Carnage isn't the right word for it,' she said. 'It would be understandable if there was some organisation but it was a dash to get on the ferry'.
She added: 'People were shouting and beeping at each other as people tried to get in front of each other'.
The mother went on to say that she usually takes the Eurotunnel, but thought it would be 'fun' for the family to take the Ferry for a change.
However, she admitted 'it was definitely not worth it', despite saving £40 altogether.
It comes after Brits faced Easter getaway misery in April and queued for hours at the Faro International Airport in Portugal amid alleged staffing shortages.
Travellers claimed they had endured three-hour delays because of e-Gate malfunctions and a lack of information from airlines.
They described 'carnage at the airport', with children crying and some passing out while waiting in vain to arrive or travel back home to Britain.
Yvette Hughes took to X, formerly Twitter, to challenge airline Jet 2 over the Faro chaos.
She wrote: 'What the hell is going on? 3 and a half hour's queuing through security.
'My knees are swollen, someone has passed out, children are crying. Not a bit of information from anyone.'
Yvette Hughes was among the holidaymakers stuck in chaos at Faro airport over the Easter holiday weekend back in March
Hundreds of people were seen queuing for Eurostar train services at St Pancras International station in central London as part of the Easter getaway
Tourists described how electronic gates were not working amid alleged staff shortages back in March
The airline told her: 'We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. However, the same has been forwarded to us for a quick action.
'Kindly send us a direct message and we will update you at earliest and accordingly.'
Ms Hughes later responded by saying: 'Still queuing and no reply. 4 hours.'
Another passenger posted: 'Legitimately been in line for customs for 3 hours at Faro airport. My flight was only an hour and 40.'
And a fellow traveller wrote: 'Faro Airport. Not enough staff. Electronic gates that don't work. People stuck for over 3 hours and not moving. Happy Easter.'
A source within Portugal's Polícia de Segurança Pública told the Correio da Manhã newspaper that the chaos came amid 'peak' passenger arrivals.
