Birmingham Airport Security Check Delays and Why They Keep Happening

Passengers at Birmingham Airport continued to face chaos amid ongoing security concerns. On Bank Holiday Monday, one traveler said people “passed out while queuing in chaotic scenes”. Another added that “the security line was through the terminal building and down the street.”

Last night (Tuesday 7 May), the Home Office confirmed that a Border Force issue had caused delays at Birmingham Airport as part of a “national issue” also affecting Heathrow, Gatwick, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and Newcastle. Videos and pictures shared on social media showed long queues.

Today (May 8), the Home Office announced that the issue had been resolved. But this is not the first time this has happened. A similar incident took place in April. So why do the problems keep happening and what is being done to prevent them from continuing?

Read more: Birmingham Airport Bank Holiday passengers ‘faint amid chaotic security queues’

Why are there delays at Birmingham Airport?

The Home Office, which oversees the Border Force, confirmed there was a “nationwide issue due to a problem with the eGates passport last night (May 7), according to a BBC report. eGates are automated gates that use facial recognition to verify a person’s identity and allow them to enter the country without speaking to a Border Force officer.

Across the UK’s 15 air and rail ports, there are more than 270 electronic gates, according to the government’s website, which it also says should “enable faster travel to the UK”. Yesterday, staff were left to manually process passengers through security due to the national blackout. Due to their disruption, staff were left to manually process passengers.

Have there been delays in national security screening before?

A similar problem occurred last month, which led to huge queues at passport control points in the UK. It was first reported by Edinburgh Airport, then also happened at Birmingham, Manchester, Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports.

In a statement at the time, a Home Office spokesman said: “On Thursday 25 April, a technical issue affected eGates across the country. The issue was quickly identified and has now been resolved. We have comprehensively analyzed the causes and will ensure that this. the problem does not repeat itself”.

What has the government said about UK airport delays?

Yesterday’s nationwide eGate issue has now been resolved, according to a Home Office announcement. In a statement today (May 8), a spokesman said “eGates at UK airports came back online shortly after midnight”. He confirmed that “at no time was border security compromised and there is no indication of malicious cyber activity.”

He added that the problems were caused by a “system network problem” and were first reported at around 7.50pm, meaning the problems continued for more than four hours. The Home Office apologized to “travellers caught up in disruption” and thanked “partners including airlines for their cooperation and support” during the disruption.

However, according to the BBC report, the problem did not appear to only affect the eGates themselves, as Belfast International Airport, which does not have them, said Border Force “systems” were affected.

What’s happening at Birmingham Airport today?

Most flights seem to depart and arrive on time. And that’s the case at UK airports today (May 8).

What is Birmingham Airport doing to improve security delay issues?

Birmingham Airport says it is currently “building for its future” by creating a new security search area that will be “streamlined, faster and simpler”. However, staff admit the transition can be “confusing for customers” with “changing queuing and walking routes”.

A Birmingham Airport spokesperson told BirminghamLive: “Birmingham Airport has invested £60m in a new security hall and scanning equipment. This major 18-month building project is building for our future by building a new simpler and more streamlined. security zone for our customers.

“Building works in the terminal means we have lost areas where customers would have previously queued for security, mainly our upstairs space. This means that the majority of our security waiting area is now on the ground floor.”

What can passengers do to avoid missed flights and delays?

The airport spokesperson explained what is being done to help passengers: “This transition from existing security to our new security area can be confusing. Here are the best travel tips for customers traveling from Birmingham Airport over the next few months:

• Customers traveling with Jet2 or TUI can drop off their bags the day before. Then, on the day you travel, go straight to security.

• Check-in and security will be busy, customers should arrive for when check-in opens, every airline is different, details can be found on booking.

• Check in Zones in the terminal:

➡Zone A for Jet2

➡Zone D for Emirates

➡Zones B and C for all other airlines

• If a customer has checked in online and has no checked baggage, then they should arrive when check-in opens and proceed directly to the security screening area.

• Remember that the rules for liquids and electrics still apply. Make sure liquids and electronics are removed from bags for separate filtration. All liquids, pastes and gels must be under 100ml and in a resealable bag.

“Travelling customers can find all this information on our website,” added a spokesman for Birmingham Airport.