Huge queues outside Birmingham Airport ‘could last for months’ as more passengers wait in the cold after days of chaos.
The disruption began on Thursday when long queues formed amid confusion over new 100ml liquid rules and 3D baggage scanners.
Furious passengers waited hours to go through security after an airport installed new technology that allows people to travel with up to two liters of liquids in their luggage.
Now insiders have claimed queues can last months and the airport is “understaffed”, leaving staff “overworked” and “struggling”.
An anonymous employee told BirminghamLive that passengers regularly complain about missed or delayed flights and said the situation was “really bad”.
Long queues outside Birmingham Airport can be seen in a video posted on X on Sunday
The video was taken from the security line at 5:18 a.m. Sunday
By the time the passengers who posted the video went through security, their flight was making its final boarding calls
The disruption began on Thursday when long queues formed amid confusion over new 100ml liquid rules and 3D baggage scanners.
Furious passengers waited hours to get through security after an airport installed new technology that allows people to travel with up to two liters of liquids in their luggage
Frustrated passengers face hour-long queues as they pass through airport security
Outside the terminal, huge lines could be seen snaking down the sides of the building
The problem appears to stem from staff shortages and the time it took to complete the upgrade of the new security hall, with the source adding that the airport should have hired more security staff to combat the issues.
How 3D scanners spell the end of 100ml liquid limits
Current liquid rules state that flyers can only carry 100ml containers in hand luggage.
This year, however, passengers will be able to carry 330ml containers (2L) through security at selected airports.
The new CT scanners, similar to those used in hospitals, take high-resolution 3D images, enabling accurate baggage screening without the need to remove items, speeding up the security process.
This means passengers will be able to leave liquids, laptops and electronics inside their luggage when they go through security.
Baggage rules will still vary between different airlines, so passengers are encouraged to check before travelling.
In response, airport bosses said there was an “ongoing recruitment campaign for security officers” and added that missed or delayed flights were “not necessarily” their fault.
The trouble started on Thursday, when long queues formed as new rules for carrying liquids caused confusion among passengers.
The chaos didn’t let up like it did on Friday, and over the weekend people showed up three hours early for their departures, but still found themselves in long lines at security.
Birmingham Airport met the deadline to install new 3D baggage scanners earlier this month, but officials at the West Midlands hub have decided to combine both the old and new rules for carrying liquids “until further notice”.
The airport said the previous 100ml limits still apply, but passengers will be able to carry them in their carry-on bags instead of being brought out for separate screening in transparent bags.
Birmingham Airport said in a statement that as well as security delays with the new technology, “ongoing construction work on site” added to the “usual busy morning” as customers waited in “long and thin queues”.
On Friday, a spokesman for Birmingham Airport said: “With ongoing construction work and fluid restrictions, the airport was naturally busy as you would expect on a Friday flight”.
“There are daily queues at peak times, which is natural for any airport. The image of the queue is subjective and in the moment. We strongly advise customers to follow our advice and only attend in accordance with check-in opening hours.
“We have had no reports of hypothermia or calls to our medical line to help passengers. We had full first aid training on site and none of our staff were called to treat anyone.
“We ask customers to follow our social channels and website to follow our simple instructions to make traveling through Birmingham Airport easier for everyone.”
The latest statement Birmingham Airport provided to MailOnline said: “The airport has invested £60 million of private money in its new security search area. An area that has been designed and resourced to accommodate the increase to two liters carried in cabin baggage cannot currently be operated with a temporary restriction.
“There are daily queues at peak times, which is natural for any airport. The image of the queue is subjective and in the moment. Following the new 100ml limit, we have today installed ‘Liquid Control Stations’ at all entrances to the terminal where colleagues directly assist passengers to ensure liquid containers over 100ml are removed. The outdoor queues we see today are from “fluid control stations”.
“Following these additional checks, we have seen that a large proportion of customers are still arriving with liquids over 100ml in their bags and unfortunately these have to be removed and disposed of. Containers that hold more than 100ml are allowed but must be completely empty. Our security flow is continuous today, aided by these extra checks, and we welcome and appreciate the cooperation of our passengers in removing excess liquids from their cabin bags.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative that customers follow the 100ml rule. This additional layer of control risks slowing down the security process without passenger support.
“We have been constantly planning this transition from our old security area to our new one, considering the impact of construction work, new equipment and unknown frontline areas. Our airport is used by around one million passengers every month, most of whom have a good experience despite the ongoing construction works.
“In addition to the changes we’ve made for our customers, we’ve also reached out to our colleagues. As part of the construction work, a new social zone for colleagues was created, which includes a large relaxation area, dedicated toilets, a prayer room and a quiet room. We have collaborated with our teams since the beginning of development work, with colleagues involved in the design of both the new security search hall and their social area, and we continue to do so.
“We run an ongoing recruitment campaign for security officers as the process is properly lengthy, with assessment centers and classrooms scheduled every month throughout the year to support the recruitment and training of new colleagues.”