Birmingham Airport issues a ’20 minute’ warning to passengers going through security

Passengers breaking the rules are adding 20 MINUTES to everyone’s wait at security, an airport boss has warned. The boss of Birmingham Airport has warned that Britons breaking the rules could add 20 minutes to everyone’s waiting time at security checks.

Nick Barton, CEO of Birmingham Airport, told the BBC: “A non-compliant bag with liquids over 100ml can add up to 20 minutes to each passenger’s journey through security.” Mr Barton said: “Since opening our new security area and despite being one of the first airports in the UK to comply, we have been restricted in the use of our multi-million pound equipment due to to an outstanding regulatory restriction, meaning we had to limit liquids to 100ml.

“Although the 100ml rule is still in place, we constantly have non-compliant bags with liquids over the allowance, which has made our equipment inefficient and resulted in extended waiting times for customers.” A new government directive means airports across the country have temporarily re-introduced rules preventing passengers from carrying liquids larger than 100ml in hand luggage.

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Mr Barton said: “It is now imperative that all customers comply with the national rule to ensure a smoother and simpler transition through the airport.” All customers traveling have been advised to check their hand luggage to ensure they comply with the new restrictions.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper advised passengers to check airport websites for specific rules before travelling. “For the majority of passengers, the rules haven’t changed at all yet and so they won’t change tonight,” he told BBC Breakfast.

He said the reintroduction of the restrictions would allow “changes” to be made to the scanning equipment. It is a temporary measure and we will determine when this can be reversed in due course,” he said. The DfT previously said the Civil Aviation Authority would impose financial penalties on airports that met the deadlines.

In January, consumer group Which? warned that extending the restrictions could create confusion during the summer holidays.