LONDON (AP) — The head of Europe's largest airport is urging the British government to quickly implement plans allowing more overseas passengers, including Americans, to use the shorter e-passport gates.
Under the plan outlined by Treasury chief Philip Hammond in his budget Monday, air passengers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan will be allowed to use the gates starting this summer.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said Tuesday the government should think about making it happen sooner, perhaps before March, when Britain is set to leave the European Union. He says doing so would "demonstrate that Britain is open for business."
Such gates are currently open only to those traveling from the European Economic Area and Switzerland. U.K. border officials have chronically missed targets to process people outside these areas quickly.
