Military personnel checking passports at UK airports appear to be ensuring passengers are not being delayed on the first day of Border Force strikes.
Heathrow and Gatwick both said their immigration halls were operating as normal on Friday, while one passenger said it was the quickest he has got through border control in a decade.
Rishi Sunak has said he is “sad and disappointed” at the disruption strike action has caused travellers.
As thousands face severe disruption across air, rail and road transport, the Prime Minister insisted the Government had acted "fairly and reasonably" on public sector pay.
“I am really sad and I am disappointed about the disruption that is being caused to so so many people’s lives, particularly at Christmas time,” he said.
“When it comes to the difficult question of setting public pay, the Government has acted fairly and reasonably in accepting all the recommendations of the public sector pay review bodies.”
He also claimed that he is trying to make “the right long-term decisions for the country, for everybody’s benefit”.
Approximately 1,000 Border Force guards have walked out across major airports and will continue their industrial action until New Year’s Eve except for December 27.
Industrial action by National Highways staff will also continue on Friday, while the country’s rail network is set to come to a complete standstill on Christmas Eve due to strikes.
A severe traffic warning has been issued by the RAC which expects 7.9 million leisure journeys to be made from Friday to Christmas Eve. Nurses and ambulance workers will also stage strikes next month.
