AIRLINES will be obliged to act as border guards as new rules force them to check travellers’ Covid paperwork at check-in — in a bid to cut queues at airports.
Ministers have ordered carriers to check passenger locator forms and Covid tests — with the all clear sent to Border Force officials in the UK.
The Department of Transport already asks airlines and carriers to do pre-departure checks, but they will now be better integrated into the system.
It should mean more e-gates open at airports and shorter queues.
It comes as rescue flights to Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca are being fired up by airlines to take stricken Brits back home as quickly as possible before they have to quarantine.
The holiday islands will be removed from the green list on Monday, meaning unvaccinated Brits will have to quarantine on their return home.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates
Jet2 chief Steve Heapy said the airline was “not obliged” to take people home early, but was looking into laying on extra planes to jet tourists home.
He added: “We’ve got a two-tier society. Fifa officials are exempt, people that run international businesses are exempt, ministers seem to be exempt.
“Meanwhile, the average person can’t go on holiday.”
