‘Get there three hours early if you want food and drink’ – Smoking airline passengers queue outside entrance to Birmingham Airport

The withdrawals are due to work currently underway to build a “more streamlined” security area, but the firm warned customers on its website that delays could affect passengers until it is completed.

Today, customers were seen queuing outside the building – in a move that prompted an explanation to be released from firm bosses, confirming the outside waiting plan was decided due to the sunny weather.

Several people have reported the delays they are experiencing, with one social media user saying that if tanned passengers want time to eat before flying, they should arrive three hours early.

Posting earlier on Facebook, Claire Hyland Cook said: “Traveling from Birmingham airport get there three hours before if you want food and drink…”

Other angry customers vented their anger online, with one person calling it an “embarrassment” for Birmingham.

Writing on Facebook, Andy Keogh said: “It’s an embarrassment to Birmingham that airport. These smart check-ins are useless, they take much more time than a professional doing it.

“Yet you have to queue to drop off your bags and security is the slowest anywhere. The meet and greet car park is so far it’s like walking from Chelmsley Wood after leaving the car.

“I won’t fly from there now, I’d rather Manchester Heathrow or the East Midlands.”

Karen Deamer said: “Nothing has changed then, we almost missed our flight in January. Not even holidays then.”

Ashok Bangar said: “I recently went on holiday with three children and the worst experience of the whole holiday was security at Birmingham airport.”

Long queues have been reported at UK airports in recent weeks, including at Heathrow, Manchester and Stansted.

This was put down to a number of factors, including the time it took for new ground staff to pass security clearance, staff illness, a shortage of Border Force officials and increased travel demand after the UK’s coronavirus restrictions ended.

The company’s website said that while the work continued, it could affect customers “from time to time”.

It writes: “Birmingham Airport is currently building its future by building a new security search area which will be streamlined, faster and simpler.

“While we go through this construction phase, our upstairs waiting area has been taken out of service and customers are queuing downstairs. This is the new normal as we build our new security zone.

“This transition is sometimes confusing for our customers with changing queues and walking routes, however our colleagues are on hand for any help and assistance. We apologize to our customers for the impact this transition may have from time to time.”

A Birmingham Airport spokesman said: “Due to our ongoing construction work to build our new security search area, customers will find themselves queuing in unfamiliar areas.

“With the sunny morning we experienced today, we made the decision to queue our customers outside to reduce congestion around the construction works. While this seems unusual to our customers, and for that we apologize, we make operational decisions daily to ensure flow. of customers through security.”