Birmingham airport has been branded an “utter shambles” by passengers who claim they are spending more time queueing than flying, and more money trying to avoid the queues than spent on flight tickets.
A week after i first reported on continuing delays at the Midlands airport, holidaymakers say they are still being held up in long queues for hours snaking outside the building as they await security checks.
Severe delays going through security have plagued the airport for months, though no specific date has been given as to when the disruption will be resolved.
Airport bosses blamed the chaos on a last-minute order from the Department of Transport (DfT) to reintroduce stricter limits on liquids in hand luggage.
Nick Baron, Birmingham airport’s chief executive, said the experiences of passengers were “not what we planned to give them” and he was “very disappointed” with the Government for changing the rules.
But Rob Burgess, editor of frequent flyer website Head for Points, told i: “In reality, the delays are primarily due to the major construction work taking place at the airport coinciding with the first wave of summer holiday traffic.”
The airport is undergoing a £300m upgrade, with Next Generation Security Checkpoints (NGSC) being installed. As part of the works, the upstairs queuing area at the new £50m security hall has been closed.
Sam Sharp, 37, who flies regularly from Birmingham airport for business and pleasure, described the situation as an “utter shambles”.
Mr Sharp, the commercial director for a transport firm, is due to fly from the airport to Berlin with his partner on Tuesday 25 June.
However, he has just made the decision to spend £50 – more than the £46.99 cost of his flight tickets – on fast-track fees and an early-morning cab in an effort to avoid the chaos.
He told i: “It’s absolutely horrendous, it really is an utter shambles. I’m absolutely dreading next week. I’m leaving home at 3am to be at the airport at 4am for a flight to Berlin at 6.20am.”
He said the last time he flew from the airport at the end of April, he paid for the fast-track service to jump the queue and get through security more quickly.
“Fast track is supposed to get you to the gate in about 20 minutes,” he said. “It took me an hour and 10 minutes last time. There were only two only a couple of security lanes open and a clear lack of management and direction inside the airport.”
He told i it was a similar situation at the airport last summer. The 37-year-old said: “I know [the airport] keeps blaming everyone else but it’s just badly managed, it’s badly run.”
Another passenger, Rich Martino, 38, claims he spent more time queuing at the airport than he spent on his flight.
Mr Martino said he waited in line at the airport early on Monday morning for almost three hours. He said he completely missed his flight’s boarding time, but managed to get on at the last-minute because the gate was kept open.
He told i: “Technically, I missed the final boarding time, so I was very concerned. I arrived at 5am for an 8.05am flight. It took 2 hours and 40 minutes to get through security.
“Boarding was due to close at 7.25am so I missed that – but fortunately the airline was still boarding people. All of this was for a 55 minute flight to Amsterdam.”
Mr Martino said 50 minutes of his queuing time was spent outside before moving into the airport, where he said it was “worse and very warm”.
“The whole experience was very uncomfortable and stressful,” he told i. “The situation wasn’t helped as there were very few staff visible until you reached the end of the queue near security.
“No explanations were given by any staff members, and none seemed overly keen to interact with travellers.”
In future, he said he will “potentially travel further and use a different airport”.
Nick Baron, Birmingham airport’s chief executive said the experiences of passengers were “not what we planned to give them” and he was “very disappointed” with the Government change to rules on liquid limits for hand luggage.
The airport said it is installing a larger temporary facility this week, with more liquid stations to help passengers before they get to security.
A Birmingham airport spokesperson told i: “Since the 9 June we have used an outdoor temporary facility to help customers with liquid checks before they get to security.
“This week will see a larger temporary facility installed to further support the Government’s 100ml container directive.
“As always, our advice is only arrive when your airline’s check in opens and ensure containers of liquids, pastes and gels are under 100ml.
“Crucially, our new security area was designed, and resourced, to accommodate the increase to two litres being carried in cabin baggage and with the current restrictions, this currently cannot be operated.”
“When the Government made the announcement concerning this restriction the point was made that this is a ‘temporary ’ intervention.
“Unfortunately we are unable to elaborate any further on the likely timescale to remove this restriction.
“In the intervening period we have to focus on minimising any impacts on our passengers wherever possible.”
