AIRPORT ANGER
Travel chaos as furious passengers are forced to wait in huge queues outside Birmingham Airport in ‘total carnage’
One flyer said it took an hour and 17 minutes to get through security
FURIOUS passengers have been forced to wait in huge queues and "total carnage" outside Birmingham Airport this morning.
Passengers set to fly from BHX were queuing outside the departure check-in areas before even reaching the security hall.
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Holidaymakers took to social media to vent their frustrations.
One described the airport as "carnage" while another said the size of the queue was "disgraceful".
Another said: "Travelling from Birmingham Airport is an absolute shambles. It has the longest queue for security that I’ve ever seen in my 49 years.
"And check in desks open 2 hours before, despite tickets recommending 3 hours. If you’re booking holiday now avoid it like the plague."
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A third posted: "As usual, chaos at Birmingham airport, still the worst airport for so many years."
Our flyer said it took them one hour and 17 minutes to get through security.
It comes after weeks of misery and delays at the airport with some people reporting missing their flights.
The airport finished its £60million "state-of-the-art" security hall upgrade in May after months of construction work.
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It will eventually allow passengers to carry liquids of up to two litres in cabin baggage.
But, despite the work being completed, the airport said that "until further notice" passengers would only be able to carry liquids of up to 100ml as "partial regulatory restrictions" were in place.
The airport said the upgrade would allow it to accommodate 18 million passengers by 2033 - up from 12m currently.
Furious passengers are forced to wait in huge queues at major UK airport
In a June 5 update on the security hall, a Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: "Birmingham Airport is one of the first UK airports to meet the June 1 Government deadline for the implementation of new security screening standards for passenger and cabin baggage.
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"However, certain liquid restrictions will remain in place.
"In due course this new equipment will allow liquids of up to two litres to be taken through in cabin baggage, however some restrictions temporarily remain in place.
"Until further notice, passengers are advised that they can only carry liquids up to 100ml, albeit it can stay in hand luggage and no longer needs to be in a plastic bag, when departing from Birmingham Airport.
"The Airport has invested £60m in its new larger security area. This area is purpose built with simpler, streamlined equipment and will futureproof Birmingham Airport from its current 12 million passengers per year in 2024, to accommodate 18m passengers per annum by 2033."
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said the queue had, in fact, moved fast.
They said: “We had a usual busy morning at Birmingham Airport, with customers queuing in unfamiliar areas.
"The queue was long and skinny in parts however it moved quickly through the terminal.
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"Although our new security hall is operational, we still have on-going building works on-site and are awaiting regulatory approval that will allow liquids of up to two litres to be taken through in cabin baggage.
"These building works will continue for the foreseeable future as we redevelop the airport, which is part of our planned, and previously announced, £300m investment.”
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