TRAVEL chaos has hit Birmingham Airport again as hundreds of people are forced to queue outside “like cattle” after a week of “total carnage”.
A new video taken this morning shows long lines outside the security checkpoint as the sun rises.
The queue marks another stressful morning for flyers unsure whether they will make it through security on time.
The new clip was posted to social media site X, formerly Twitter, by entrepreneurs Wes and Pete who were first in line for a 7.20am flight to Cyprus.
At 4am they posted a video of the queue already formed outside the airport saying “it looks like another day of chaos”.
They said, “It’s 5:18 am – let’s see how quickly we can get through it. I don’t have a fast track. I’ll do the work the @bhx_official communications team isn’t doing.
“Terrible for anyone who is older, has a disability, children or when it rains.”
First, they show a long line standing outside the terminal in the morning light, even standing on its own again.
By 6 a.m., the pair had moved past the line into a tent-covered section of the line, “which you can only get through slowly.”
Five minutes later they post again saying the line has only grown since they got in line.
“And – once you get into the building, there’s a long line.”
At 6:18 a.m., an hour after joining the queue, the pair are still standing in line, waiting to board the elevators that will take them to the baggage check-in area.
At 6.58am they said they were “pretty much done” and had cleared security, with the signs showing their flight status as ‘Final Call’.
“Absolutely a mess and a terrible, stressful, tiring start to the holiday.
“We definitely felt like cattle today!
“No time to buy anything, get food, go to the toilet, use the lounge I paid for or sit down after being on my feet for over two hours.
“When bag drop doesn’t open until two hours before the flight and it takes an hour and 45 minutes to get through security, it’s definitely the most stressful start to the holiday.
‘My advice to everyone is to get here three hours in advance, put your bag down as early as possible, pack your things, make sure you have food and drinks for the queue – and promise yourself never to to fly through this mess until they get their stuff sorted. out.
Wes and Pete repeatedly attacked Birmingham Airport’s poor communications with flyers “that didn’t tell people what to expect”.
Do you know more? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk, or call us on 020 7782 4100
They said: ‘A terrible failure of communication. They’re repeating their old infographic about arriving when the airline tells you to. But if we hadn’t dropped off the luggage earlier than officially allowed, we would have missed the flight.
‘There is no excuse for their appalling communication or lack of any acknowledgment of the problems.
“No advice to people on what to expect, how to prepare, no apologies for the terrible start to people’s holidays. Terrible.”
Birmingham Airport has been contacted for comment.
We certainly felt like cattle today!
Wes and Piet
The airport was also hit by long queues on Thursday and Friday.
But despite what passengers said on social media, a spokesperson said the lines had “moved quickly”.
They said: “We had a usual busy morning at Birmingham Airport, with customers queuing in unfamiliar areas.
“The queue was long and thin, but moved quickly through the terminal.”
Flyers had described the queues on those days as “carnage” and “disgraceful”.
One said: “Travel from Birmingham Airport is an absolute mess. It has the longest security line I have ever seen in my 49 years.
“And check-in desks open 2 hours earlier, despite tickets recommending 3 hours. If you book a holiday now, avoid this like the plague.”
Why are there long queues at Birmingham Airport?
Birmingham Airport recently opened a new £60 million “state-of-the-art” security hall upgrade in May after months of construction work.
The hall is part of a wider upgrade of the airport, which is expected to handle 18 million fliers per year by 2033.
The upgrade will ultimately allow passengers to carry liquids of up to two liters in hand luggage.
But regulatory approval has yet to be granted for the increased liquid limits in Birmingham.
A spokesperson previously said that work on the hall was underway.
“Although our new security hall is operational, construction work is still ongoing on site and we are awaiting regulatory approval allowing liquids up to two liters to be carried in hand luggage.
“This construction work will continue for the foreseeable future as we redevelop the airport, which is part of our planned and previously announced £300 million investment.”
“Until further notice, passengers are advised that they should only take liquids up to 100ml with them when departing from Birmingham Airport, although this can remain in hand luggage and no longer in a plastic bag.”