Birmingham Airport: More staff recruited to deal with long queues

Extra workers at Birmingham Airport have been brought in to “explain the hand baggage handling rules to passengers”, who continue to face long queues to get through security.

An expanded temporary structure with a number of so-called “liquid check stations” has now opened, the airport said.

“The more we can do together to reduce the number of bags that don’t comply with these rules, the more we can reduce queues at security,” added chief executive Nick Barton.

Mr Barton previously spoke of his disappointment that restrictions on carrying liquids above 100ml in hand luggage, which had been eased, were temporarily reinstated by the UK government.

Described as state-of-the-art security checkpoints, they will scan luggage bags containing bottles of liquid up to two litres.

Mr Barton said additional “third-party customer service specialists” would in the meantime explain the current rules and help passengers “prepare for security”.

“These new measures are designed to give passengers an easier and smoother experience through security,” he added.

The airport boss has previously claimed that one in six passengers passing through Birmingham do not follow procedures on liquid limits.

Many Birmingham travelers have criticized the airport after weeks of disruption.

The 100ml liquid rules are in place at all UK airports. Reports of long passenger delays at Birmingham are more common than at other airports.

In May, the BBC was told Birmingham needed at least 100 more security guards, with the number of vacancies meaning security staff are feeling overstretched, making it harder to recruit and retain staff.

Construction work has been underway for more than a year to create a new “simpler and streamlined” security search area.

Andrew and Jill Saunders called the situation a “complete fiasco” and told the BBC that Mr Barton was “missing the point” by “blaming everyone but the airport”.

“The major problem is the restricted access to the first floor,” they said.

“Passengers are herded into lines that eventually feed four elevators that simply cannot handle the volume.

“The escalators and stairs are gone, as is the separate Jet2 access at the top end of the terminal.”

They also said: “There are ceilings down everywhere, cables dangling and passengers being directed down narrow dimly lit corridors.

“I estimate I walked at least half a mile on my way to the new security room – where there are fewer facilities.

“The construction work is nowhere near complete.”

Bradley Stone told the BBC that queue management at the airport was “unfortunate”.

“So many people, myself included, simply won’t be using BHX in the future,” he said.

“It’s simply the worst airport in the UK at the moment.”