More misery for Birmingham Airport travellers as they face delays (2024)

Holidaymakers at Birmingham Airport faced more misery today as passengers told of 'insane' queues which forced them to wait in line for several hours amid confusion over security's liquids policy.

Scores of passengers took to social media to share their experience today, describing two-hour queues as 'appalling' and 'ridiculous', while another traveller said the 'non-express queues are insane'.

Physical changes to the security area, which should allow for new technology required to relax the 100ml rule, mean passengers are now queuing on the ground floor and, at busy times, even outside of the airport.

Government had announced that the 100ml rule would be scrapped in time for summer, meaning holidaymakers could take larger bottles of liquids in hand luggage for the first time in years.

But this has now been delayed, causing chaos at airports across the UK and confusion for passengers.

The government had originally given approval to some airports to allow passengers to carry up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage after the installation of new CT scanners. But it has temporarily re-introduced the 100ml restriction until further notice.

New 'liquid check' stations were rolled out at the airport yesterday, in a bid to cut the time wasted at security by those confused by the changes to hand luggage rules.

Airport bosses have also said they are in the process of hiring a further 100 staff to help combat the lengthy queues faced by travellers.

But the changes don't seem to have eased the problems.

One passenger today said he had 'never had to queue so long in such chaos' and vowed not to fly from the airport again.

Posting on X, he said: 'It is dreadful. I just travelled from Birmingham Airport and have never had to queue so long in such chaos.

'On my return all I saw as new measures was the airport installing more outdoor tents to accommodate even longer queues! Not flying from there again.'

Another traveller said: 'Flying out of BHX airport this Thursday morning at 06:00. Arrived 03:30. Fortunately had Express Lane! 25 minutes total through Security; 10 of that was just queuing for the lift.

'Staff working hard to keep things organised, but the non-Express queues are INSANE!'

Over the last few weeks, passengers on long-haul flights were advised to arrive as much as four hours in advance of their departure time to check in.

The ongoing disruption has sparked fears that delays could continue for months.

It was reported earlier this week that the airport is hiring specialists to help tackle the back log amid confusion over liquid rules.

Birmingham Airport chief executive Nick Barton said the extra 'third-party customer service specialists' would explain current rules and help passengers 'prepare for security'.

Mr Barton also revealed that key features such as escalators had been removed for health and safety reasons and would be replaced by lifts.

He said: 'The escalators were really dangerous. We removed them because they were a health and safety issue.

'These lifts are huge, we only really need three of them to be working in the peak. When the ground space opens up people won't be queuing downstairs.'

He continued: 'These new measures are designed to give passengers a smoother and easier experience though security.'

He added that passengers were made to queue outside to reduce panic and crowding inside and explained: 'It is much nicer to queue outside as much as we regret the perception that this has on the passengers.'

Customers can use a premium fast-track service to skip most of the queues, but this costs an extra £13 per person.

Airports have criticised the Government for the liquid rules U-turn after some airports - including Birmingham - had installed new 3D scanners.

It should have meant the rules were changed on June 1 so passengers could carry liquids up to two litres in their hand luggage.

But the likes of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester were allowed to miss the latest deadline for installing them after various logistical challenges.

Some airports that had installed the new technology had already dropped the 100ml liquid rule.

But the Department for Transport (DfT) ruled that six British airports, including Birmingham, will temporarily reintroduce the ban.

Birmingham Airport was contacted for comment.