Fog Causes City Customs Chaos
By Johnny Caldwell

Tuesday 31st January 2006

Passengers whose flight from Malaga was forced to land at Belfast City Airport because of yesterday's thick fog were left reeling after they were subsequently forced to travel to Belfast International Airport to go through Customs.

The easyJet flight originally scheduled to land at Aldergrove circled above Belfast for 15 minutes yesterday afternoon before a decision was taken to land in east Belfast.

Although many onboard had to travel-to Belfast International Airport to collect cars, others were frustrated that Customs facilities were not made available at Belfast City Airport.

News Letter reporter Lesley Walsh was on board the flight which left Spain at 10.35am and was just one of several diverted in recent days because of the adverse weather conditions.

"Some people, such as those who lived in Belfast or had small children with them, were angry that they weren't allowed to leave Belfast City Airport but were bussed to Belfast International to go through Customs there," she said. "People's frustration was even more apparent when all the two Customs officers did at Aldergrove was get on the buses and check passports."

People thought it would have been much easier on everyone concerned if Customs Officer had travelled to the City Airport and saved everyone having to travel out to Aldergrove.

On Sunday night, another easyJet flight from Malaga landed at Dublin Airport instead of Belfast International Airport, again because of the fog.

Nobody at Belfast City Airport, which because it deals exclusively with domestic flights has no Customs, was available for comment last night.

We had a load of them come into Dublin bloody busy day yesterday, the passengers wernt best pleased to say the least

Ah top of the mornin to ya, im Sgt Al...............if I could just have a peak in ya bags please!!!!!!!!!!!

I bet they were overjoyed!!!!!!!!

your work really Al!!!

It was a European flight so they went through the blue channel which means we cant stop them unless we have reasonable suspicion they're carrying something, under EU free movement of peoples through member states but it also states they must clear customs though

I always wondered why there were never any Customs Officers in the 'EU Citizens' channel at Heathrow...

Thats why.

You have to clear customs but the cant randomly stop you like in the green channel

So, hypothetically, I could import a ton of alcohol, and not get stopped, as I long as I didn't look suspicious?

Try sticking that on carry on luggae, but yes technically, but we search bags before you get them

Carry on luggage - Where would you put!

Orinoco btw its not EU Citizens Channel its EU flight channel only passengers who's journey originated in the EU go through there everyone else eighter goes through red or green depending on whether they have something to declare or not regardless of nationality

Ah, ok Sarge.

In my experience, coming back from the USA 3 times, and Russia once, I was able to walk through Customs with no bother. One passport check, no Customs Officers searching bags.

Thought it was odd is all....