Hundreds of passengers have faced long queues for security at a major UK airport this morning – causing frustration for many holidaymakers.
People getting flights from Birmingham Airport faced lengthy queues, with lines forming outside the airport building itself.
One couple documented their experience on X, formerly known as Twitter, as they made their way through the airport for a 7.20am flight.
The pair said the queue had formed by 4am and they had joined it at 5.18am – only just making it through for the final boarding call.
Eventually getting through security, they tweeted: “Well we’ve just about made it. Got through the Birmingham Airport security queue with the boards telling us ‘final call’. No time to buy anything, get food, go to the loo, make use of the lounge I’ve paid for or sit down after being on our feet for well over two hours.
“Absolutely shambles and a terrible, stressful, exhausting start to the holiday. When bag drop doesn’t open until two hours before the flight, and it takes one hour and 45 minutes to clear security, it’s just absolutely the most stressful start to the holiday.”
Other passengers also took to X to share their experiences of the airport – which has been hit by long delays in recent days.
Tweeting this morning, one person said: “Birmingham Airport is an absolute car crash. Queues starting by the Hilton Hotel for security. Shocking.”
Another added: “Utter shambles at Birmingham Airport. 1.5 hours to queue through security and that was after being fast-tracked for an early flight. Easily 2-3 hour wait.”
A third wrote: “Experienced the Birmingham Airport security queue the other day & it wasn’t as extreme as this, but still terrible. About an hour wait & then had to speed to our flight. What are they doing? Why is it like this?”
Construction on Birmingham’s new £60million security hall continues, with the airport advising passengers that queues are mainly downstairs.
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: “Following the Government ruling effective June 9th the 100ml temporary rule is now enforced across all UK airports. Our new security area 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.
“In order to have full compliance to this new directive we have further amended our operating process. We now have ‘liquid check stations’ at all entrances to the terminal where colleagues are directly assisting passengers to ensure liquids containers over 100ml are removed.
“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. The outdoor queues seen today are from ‘liquid check stations’.
“Since our new security area opened in May, we have seen continuous non-compliant bags coming through security causing unnecessary queues and delays to customers’ journeys. This new step in the process is to remove the issue before customers proceed.
“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.”
