Screening lanes unveiled to curb airport queues

For weeks in 2024 passengers were left waiting for hours, some missing flights having joined long queues outside the terminal after checking in

An airport that was plagued with "unacceptable queuing" last summer has introduced passenger screening lanes to curb the problem.

Birmingham Airport has invested £5m to help ensure long lines do not "impact customers' summer again".

The lanes are responsible for screening cabin luggage and have the capacity to screen up to 3,600 passengers per hour during peak times.

They have been installed after months of delays last year that at times left passengers out of pocket when they missed flights and had to book new ones.

In response Al Titterington, terminal operations director, said the airport had focused on how it ensures customers can now be supported to join their flight as quickly as possible.

At the height of the problems last year, the experience when passengers got inside the airport terminal was often just as bad

"Last summer, some passengers experienced unacceptable lengths of queuing," said Mr Titterington.

"Since last summer, we have been relentless in our focus to make sure unacceptable queuing does not return this year."

The airport said the new lanes have capacity to screen up to 3,600 passengers per hour during peak times

The problems in 2024, caused during a £60m upgrade to introduce new security desks and hi-tech scanners, went on for months, with some passengers telling the BBC they had been left trapped after being accused of security breaches.

'Chaotic situation'

One passenger, Iain Vowles Smith from Walsall, missed his flight to Rome, where he was due to go on holiday as part of celebrations after his retirement from the NHS.

Mr Vowles Smith described the situation at the time as "chaotic".

It took some passengers 90 minutes to get through security last year due to building works with some passengers nearly missing their flights.

The airport's upgrade now includes Next Generation Security Checkpoints that are intended to enable passengers to carry up to two litres of liquid onboard, as UK-wide airport security restrictions become more relaxed.

The new lanes are located in Zone A at the airport.