Passengers rage at 'shocking' queues at Heathrow border in YET MORE delays at ...

Passengers are venting their fury after being held up in huge delays at Heathrow's immigration control today as they complained of hours-long queues. 

Britain's busiest airport said they delays are being caused by health checks despite the same measures being in place for months.

One passenger raged: 'You should be fined. There are about 25,000 people waiting for passport control... you have got to be joking.'

Another said: 'You really out to sort out your immigration lines if you want people to continue to travel through Heathrow and with BA!

'Simply shocking today. I think I circled Terminal 5 three times at this point!'

One disgruntled passenger added: 'Been in the border control queue for over two hours now and I am nowhere near the end of the line.

'Might be in the queue for another two hours.' 

The airport told MailOnline there was nothing out of the ordinary to cause the long delays.

But one passenger posted a photo showing 'half' of the electronic passport barriers not working.

An onlooker queuing for hours at the gates said tempers were flaring as passengers joked about the lack of social distancing as they were all crammed in the queues. 

Heathrow said: 'Border Force is currently experiencing some delays as they conduct Health Measure Checks to ensure passenger compliance with the UK Government’s latest entry requirements.

'Whilst we do not have exact figures out how long queues can take our teams in the terminals are on hand to support where possible and we are working with Border Force to reduce delays as soon as possible.' 

It comes after it was revealed this week that holidaymakers and frequent flyers are facing yet more misery, with Heathrow set to hike the price it charges airlines by up to £13 per person.

The London airport has been given the green light to raise the prices it charges carriers for its services from next year.

Currently the airport can charge up to £22 per passenger for the cost of operating terminals, runways, baggage systems and security.

Heathrow chiefs had wanted to charge as much as £43 from January - a plan slammed by airline bosses who accused the airport of acting like a 'greedy monopoly'.

But industry regulator - the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) - stepped in and ordered the cost to be capped at £25 to £35 for the next five years.

An interim charge of £30 has already been agreed for January - and is due to be discussed as part of a separate consultation in November.

The rising cost is likely to be passed on to airline passengers, who have already endured months of travel disruption, confusing travel restrictions and costly Covid testing requirements.  

The rise, based on next year's £30 figure, means the average family of four face an extra £32 in flight costs - before any annual ticket price adjustments from the airlines themselves.

It also comes as Heathrow this month introduced a new £5 drop-off charge outside its terminals.

However Heathrow chiefs have defended the hike, which is part of airport's plan to claw back its huge losses suffered due to Covid.

The airport reported a £2billion annual loss due to a huge drop in customer numbers last year.

Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic today slammed the decision, saying it 'failed to protect the British consumer'.

'Today's initial proposals from the Civil Aviation Authority pave the way for Heathrow Airport to introduce unacceptable charges, just as international travel resumes at scale. 

'The world's most expensive airport risks becoming over 50 per cent more expensive, as Heathrow and its owners seek to recoup their pandemic losses and secure hundreds of millions in dividends to shareholders. 

'It is concerning that the regulator has failed in its first opportunity to step in, and together with industry partners, we will oppose these proposals in the strongest terms to protect passengers.

Mr Weiss claimed the move could also hurt the UK's economic recovery from Covid and would 'unfairly hit the pockets of family and businesses'.    

Meanwhile, Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, said: 'Which? research has previously found that airport charges are passed along to passengers through higher fares so any proposed increase by Heathrow is likely to come from consumers' pockets.

'Heathrow already has the highest fees of the UK's major airports so it's right that the CAA intervenes to investigate whether these further proposed increases are proportional.'