Huge queues outdoors Birmingham Airport might final ‘for months’
Huge queues outside Birmingham Airport ‘could last for months’ as more passengers are left waiting in the cold after days of chaos.
The disruptions began on Thursday when long lines formed amid confusion over new 100ml liquid rules and 3D baggage scanners.
Furious passengers have waited hours to get through security after the airport installed a new technology which allows people to travel with liquids up to two litres in their bags.
Now, insiders have claimed that the queues could last for months and the airport is ‘understaffed’, leaving employees ‘overworked’ and ‘struggling’.
The anonymous employee told BirminghamLive that passengers complain to him about missed or delayed flights regularly and said the situation is ‘really bad’.
The disruptions began on Thursday when long lines formed amid confusion over new 100ml liquid rules and 3D baggage scanners
Furious passengers have waited hours to get through security after the airport installed a new technology which allows people to travel with liquids up to two litres in their bags
Frustrated passengers have been facing hours-long queues as they make their way through airport security
Huge lines have been seen outside the terminal, snaking around the side of the building
The issue apparently stems from a shortage of staff and the time it has taken to complete the new security hall upgrade, with the source adding that the airport should have employed extra security staff to combat these problems.
How 3D scanners are to spell the end for 100ml liquid limits
The current rules on liquids states that flyers are only allowed to carry containers of 100ml in hand luggage.
This year, however, passengers at select airports will be able to carry 330ml containers (2L) through security.
Similar to those used in hospitals, new CT scanners take high-resolution 3D images allowing luggage to be checked precisely without the need to remove items, thus speeding up the security process.
It means travellers will be able to leave liquids, laptops and electronics inside their baggage when they walk through security.
Baggage rules will still vary between different airlines, so passengers are urged to check before travelling.
In response, airport bosses said a ‘continual recruitment campaign for security officers’ is in place and added that missed or delayed flights are ‘not necessarily’ their fault.
The issues started on Thursday, with long queues forming as the new rules for carrying liquids sparked confusion amongst passengers.
The chaos hasn’t eased up as on Friday and over the weekend people turned up three hours early for their flight but still found themselves stuck in long lines at security.
Birmingham Airport met the deadline at the start of this month to install new 3D baggage scanners, but officials at the West Midlands hub decided to combine both the old and the new rules for carrying liquids ‘until further notice’.
The airport said the former 100ml limits still apply, but passengers will be allowed to carry them inside their hand luggage instead of getting them out to be screened separately in clear bags.
Birmingham Airport said in a statement that alongside the security delays with the new technology, ‘on-going building works on-site’ have added to the ‘usual busy morning’ as customers have waited in ‘long and skinny queues’.
On Friday, a Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: ‘With the ongoing construction works and liquid restrictions in place, the airport was naturally busy as you would expect for a Friday getaway’.
‘Queues can be seen daily at peak times, which is natural for any airport. A picture of a queue is subjective, and in the moment, at that time. We strongly advise that customers follow our advice and turn up only in line with their check in opening time.
‘We had no reports of hypothermia or any calls to our medical line to assist passengers. We have fully trained first aiders onsite and none of our staff were called to treat anyone.
‘We ask customers, check our social channels and website to follow our simple instructions to make travelling through Birmingham Airport easier for all.’
The most recent statement given to MailOnline by Birmingham Airport says: ‘The airport has invested £60m of privately funded money into its new security search area. An area that was designed, and resourced, to accommodate the increase to two litres being carried in cabin baggage, this currently cannot be operated with the temporary restriction.
‘Queues can be seen daily at peak times, which is natural for any airport. A picture of a queue is subjective, and in the moment, at that time. Following the new 100ml restriction we have today installed “liquid check stations” at all entrances to the terminal where colleagues are directly assisting passengers to ensure liquids containers over 100ml are removed. The outdoor queues seen today are from “liquid check stations”.
‘With these additional checks we have seen a large proportion of customers still arriving with liquids over 100ml in their bags and these have to be regrettably removed and disposed of. Containers that can carry more than a 100ml are permitted but, need to be completely empty. Our security flow rate has been continuous today, helped by these extra checks and we welcome and appreciate the co-operation of our passengers in eliminating oversize liquids from their cabin baggage.
‘It is now, more than ever, imperative that customers abide by the 100ml rule. This additional layer of control risks slowing down the security process without the support of passengers.
‘We have continually planned for this transition from our old security area, to our new, and had considered the impact of the building works, new equipment, and the unfamiliar queuing areas. We have around a million passengers use our airport each month, the majority of whom have a good experience despite the ongoing construction works.
‘In addition to the changes we have made for our customers we have also catered for our colleagues. As part of the building works a new colleague welfare area has been created to include a large breakout area, dedicated toilets, a prayer room and a quiet room. We have worked with our teams since the start of the development works, with colleagues inputting into the design of both the new security search hall and their welfare area, and we continue to do so.
‘We have a continual recruitment campaign for security officers, as the process is rightly lengthy, with assessment centres and classrooms scheduled every month throughout the year to support the recruitment and training of new colleagues.’
