Birmingham Airport travel updates live as measures are taken to manage queues

VaselineJune 21, 2024

0 3 minutes read

Birmingham Airport travel updates live as measures are taken to manage queues

Passengers flying out of Birmingham Airport are likely to encounter a temporary elevated structure to help alleviate the current queue problems it has experienced over the past week. The chaos has been caused in part by last-minute changes to the 100ml carry-on rule, and the ongoing construction work at BHX appears to be continuing.

Tourists have faced queues of up to two hours just to get through security in the past week. This comes despite efforts by airport bosses to tackle the delays, which include hiring an extra 100 workers and building “liquid check stations” so that fewer travelers are caught out by the new 100ml rules.

But yesterday morning, many passengers still faced “crazy” queues, snaking out of the airport building.

This is a live blog, follow below for updates.

08:11Ben Perrin

“It shouldn’t be like this”

In an update, Dr Christel McMullan said she got through the queue in an hour and 15 minutes in a far from ideal experience.

She posted: “Joined at 5.45am and got through security by 7am. It moves yes, but it shouldn’t be like that. And not knowing how long it takes to get through security means I left home very early. And they blame the passengers for the queue????

08:00Ben Perrin

Fears of summer school holiday ‘chaos’

A passenger has told how they fear “chaos” at the airport during the school holidays – in a matter of weeks.

She asked the airport to open more security lanes.

07:52Ben Perrin

“Long queues are not ideal but the staff are working hard”

Another passenger posted on X: “Joined at 6.15 and was in the departure hall by 7. Queues long but constantly moving and staff calling people for earlier flights.

“I thought it was calm, organized and efficient. Long queues are not ideal but the staff were working hard.”

07:33Sarah Probert

Queues are “long but fast”

Although the lines seem long, some passengers are reporting that the time to get through security isn’t too bad this morning.

07:30Sarah Probert

Passengers reporting long queues

Passengers are now reporting long queues in the last hour. Dr Christel McMullan flying to Belfast captured waiting passengers this morning and tweeted Birmingham Airport asking them to “sort this mess out”.

07:27Sarah Probert

I fly with Ryanair

Our reporter Emily Chaplin flew into Birmingham Airport and noticed a change at Ryanair during her last trip a few weeks ago. You can read about her experience in her article here.

I flew with Ryanair and noticed a big change

07:19Sarah Probert

New structures

Passengers flying through the airport in recent days have seen huge new structures put into operation to deal with queues that have delayed people considerably. Below is a video from a passenger where you can see the measures in place.

05:13Key event

Update queue time

People flying out of Birmingham Airport have indicated on social media that queues are now around an hour long to get through security.

Those who have pre-booked fast-track tickets can skip these queues, but they are in short supply and set at more than double the price.

04:33Key event

Social media shows growing queues

04:33William Morgan

Reports of long queues forming

It took one passenger 50 minutes to get through security at 3am, but pictures on social media show longer queues forming as many of the morning travelers arrive for their flights.

BHX passenger said: “About 50 minutes to get through. The process is quite slow and only half of the lanes are in operation.

03:58William Morgan

Birmingham Airport is urging passengers to comply with the new rules

03:01Key event

What is the 100ml rule at Birmingham Airport?

Despite plans to ease restrictions on the 100ml liquid rule for hand luggage due to improvements in security technology, the failure to install these improvements at every airport led the Government to change its guidance at the last minute, reverting to the change just over a week ago.

You can only carry 100 ml containers in your hand luggage. BHX states the rules explicitly on its website:

Only liquids, pastes and gels containers up to 100 ml can be carried in hand luggage – anything larger must be in checked luggage.
No liquids over this size.
Anything over 100ml will be removed and destroyed.
There is no limit for the amount of containers under 100 ml which can be worn.
Containers that can carry more than 100 mlsuch as insulated bottles are allowed but it must be completely empty.
Do not put liquids, pastes and gels in plastic bags (please leave them loose in your hand luggage).
Do not remove them from your carry-on when you are in the security search area.
Leave all electrical components in your hand luggage during the security search.
When you go through security, please make sure all items are removed from pockets including phones, keys, coins and tissues etc. Clocks can be left on.