EASTER holiday travel chaos has struck across the UK as millions of Brits set off for breaks over the long weekend.
Travellers have had to battle through strike-hit airports and horrendous traffic queues this morning, with roads expected to be the busiest for an Easter weekend since 2022.
Strike action at Gatwick Airport has led to disruption to a number of flights[/caption]
Long queues have also been spotted as millions hit the road, such as here on the M4 in West London this morning[/caption]
Travellers have been warned of major disruption over the busy weekend period[/caption]
Gatwick Airport in London, Britain’s second busiest airport, is facing strike action from airport staff, which could lead to around 50 flights being disrupted each day.
Over 100 Red Handling staff members are striking over unpaid pensions, late payments and “illegal” shift patterns.
The strike, organised by union Unite will affect baggage handlers, check-in agents and flight dispatchers working with airlines such as Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace.
Industrial action will take place from today and will continue until the early hours of Tuesday, April 22.
Hundreds of holidaymakers hoping to jet off from the UK’s largest airport are likely to be affected.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers have had enough of Red Handling playing fast and loose with their retirement plans and waiting weeks for pay they are rightfully owed for their hard work.
“The union will not stand back and watch members be treated in such an appalling way and they have the full support of Unite in this dispute.”
A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “We are aware of the recent ballot results and the planned industrial action by Red Handling UK which will impact thousands of passengers during one of our busiest times of year.
“We are supporting the airlines impacted, who hold the contracts directly with Red Handling, with their contingency plans.
“Passengers are advised to contact their airlines directly for latest information.”
Long queues were spotted at Gatwick Airport this morning[/caption]
A number of motorists were seen stuck in traffic on the M5 near Birmingham today[/caption]
The Port of Dover was packed with travellers earlier today[/caption]
Drivers have also been warned to set off early on their travels and to plan in advance amid congestion on the roads.
Traffic is also set to be at its highest level in three years for the holiday period, with a whopping 19 million travellers expected to make journeys, according to the RAC.
Lunchtime on Good Friday is expected to have the lengthiest hold-ups, meaning those behind the wheel should plan to set off early in the morning.
Popular routes are likely to experience tailbacks including the A303 westbound to Stonehenge and the M5 southbound J15 at the RAC tower north of Bristol.
Journey times are likely to be nearly an hour longer for both meaning some could be stuck in their vehicles for more than half as long as usual.
Queues could be seen forming at the Port of Dover as many sought to get away for the long weekend.
In a post on X, the port warned of “extended processing times” at Border Control with around a 40-minute wait both before the border and at the P&O Ferries check-in.
The AA previously estimated nearly 20 million people would travel by car on Good Friday alone.
RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “We’re still expecting to see extremely high levels of traffic from Thursday onwards, with the greatest number of Easter getaway trips planned for three years.
“Drivers shouldn’t expect to escape the queues if they don’t plan the best time to set off.
“It’s always best to travel as early as possible in the morning or later in the day when most of the traffic has eased, especially if headed to popular holiday destinations such as the West Country, Scotland or Wales.”
Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister said they are preparing for around 5,500 cars on just Friday alone.
The M6 is expected to be packed around the Blackpool area, as is the M25 in its south and western sections, the M5 at Bristol, and the A303 in Wiltshire.
A number of road closures are also in place across the UK, with motorists being advised to leave home early in order to avoid delays.
MAJOR RAIL DISRUPTION THIS WEEKEND
Train travellers are also expected to face major disruption this weekend, as more than 300 projects are underway across the railway network.
The hundreds of projects are being carried out by Network Rail as part of its Easter engineering works between Good Friday and Easter Monday.
London Euston will have no services to or from Milton Keynes on Saturday and Easter Sunday, while a reduced timetable will be in place on Good Friday and Monday.
It means passengers will be unable to access the UK’s 10th busiest railway station for long-distance travel, while renewals of overhead electric lines and improvements to drainage take place.
Liverpool Lime Street will also close on Easter Sunday due to railway upgrades taking place, making travel more difficult across the north-west.
Platforms 1 to 8 at London Victoria will be closed throughout the bank holiday, with Southeastern trains diverted to London Bridge or London Cannon Street.
Routes around Southampton and Brockenhurst will also be hit by closures.
Helen Hamlin, Network Rail’s director of system operations, said: “The vast majority of the rail network will be open as usual for people wanting to travel over the Easter bank holiday, but there will be changes to services in some areas so we’re asking passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel.”
She added that Easter presented a key opportunity to carry out works because passenger numbers are lower and the double bank holiday allows more time for upgrades.
There are also concerns that railways, as well as roads, could face delays amid a yellow weather warning for torrential rain.
Lorries and cars piling up outside the Port of Dover in Kent on Friday[/caption]
Large numbers of passengers were seen waiting in the terminal area at Gatwick Airport – which has been hit by strike action[/caption]
Heavy traffic was spotted on the M25 today near Byfleet in Surrey[/caption]
The “prolonged” rainfall could lead to some flooding of homes and businesses across some of the most popular holiday spots in the UK, the Met Office has warned.
Visitors and locals across the south-west of England are covered by the warning, which takes effect at 6pm today.
Beachgoers could be in for a washout as popular tourist towns such as Truro, Newquay, Falmouth, and St Austell have been warned of the heavy rain, which could “interrupt power supplies”.
Further along the coast, cities such as Exeter and Plymouth, as well as the seaside town of Torquay, are also at risk of the “heavy and persistent” rainfall.
The Met Office has warned that the torrential conditions could make driving “difficult” and cause “some disruption to travel”.
This is due to potential spray and flooding on roads, which could increase journey times.
The forecaster also warned that bus and train services would likely be affected, similarly making journey times longer.