TRAVEL chaos strikes again at Birmingham Airport as hundreds of people are stuck outside.
Huge queues at the entrance to West Midlands Airport come just a week after the 100ml hand baggage rules were scrapped.
Jetsetters were warned to arrive early as confusion over safety rules for the U-turn caused travelers to be held up.
Holidaymakers were stuck outside with queues building as early as 5am and snaking around the car park.
The queue marks another stressful morning for flyers unsure whether they will make it through security on time.
Departure screens at the airport also show a mass of flights warning of ‘final call’ as people rush to catch their planes.
One person trying to flee gray Britain on Sunday said it took two hours to get through security.
Neil Houselander tweeted: “Birmingham Airport today… two hours of security queues. Get here early.”
Another raged about the chaos in the terminal that forced him to buy a fast track security pass.
Douglas Bagley said: “In the departure lounge at Birmingham Airport.
“I had Fast Track so it wasn’t too bad at 35 minutes for safety, but for non-Fast Track the queues are huge all over the car park.
“When you walk in, it’s like the Olympics, with people running to catch flights. Come on, England!”
A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport previously posted the issues on flyers arriving with more than 100ml of liquid in their bags.
They said: “Our new safety zone has been designed and resourced to accommodate the increase to two liters carried in hand luggage. This cannot currently be exploited with the temporary restriction.
“In order to fully comply with this new guideline, we have further adjusted our business process.
“We now have ‘liquid check stations’ at all terminal entrances where colleagues directly assist passengers to ensure liquid containers over 100ml are removed.
“With these extra checks we have seen that a large proportion of customers are still arriving with liquids over 100ml in their bag and these unfortunately need to be removed and thrown away.
“Containers with a capacity of more than 100 ml are permitted, but must be completely empty.
“Our security flow has been continuous today, aided by these additional checks, and we welcome and appreciate our passengers’ cooperation in eliminating excessive liquids from their carry-on luggage.
Why are there long queues at Birmingham Airport?
BIRMINGHAM Airport has recently opened a new £60 million state-of-the-art security hall.
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.”
“The outside queues we are seeing today are from ‘liquid check stations’.
“Since the opening of our new security zone in May, we have consistently seen substandard baggage passing through, causing unnecessary queues and delays to customers’ journeys.
“This new step in the process is to resolve the issue before customers move forward.
“It is now more necessary than ever that customers adhere to the 100 ml rule.
“This additional layer of control risks slowing down the safety process without the support of passengers.
“For customers who are less able to stand for long periods of time, we recommend that they book the guided travel service.
“However, if a customer is queuing during our peak periods and feels like they need help, our customer ambassadors are nearby and can help them without losing their place in line.”
The 100ml carry-on rule at UK airports explained
Going through airport security can be a stressful experience, so it’s important to be aware of the strict carry-on rules before you travel. Most UK airports will implement the following rules:
- All liquid items packed in a passenger’s hand luggage must contain less than 100 ml
- Liquids include things like gels, aerosols, moisturizers, sunscreen, and makeup products
- All liquid items must fit into a sealed 8″ x 8″ plastic bag before going through the scanner at airport security
- Electronic items such as laptops and tablets should be removed from bags and placed in a separate bin.
New CT scanners have already been installed at Teesside Airport, London City Airport and Aberdeen Airport, allowing holidaymakers to carry two liters of liquid in their hand luggage.