Birmingham Airport CEO apologises to customers for hours of queues through security
It's after hundreds have been queuing as far back as the car park.
Birmingham Airport CEO Nick Barton has today apologised to passengers travelling from BHX after weeks of long queues leading out of the building into the car park.
It's because they've invested £60 million into new security scanners to make it more efficient for passengers and staff.
Birmingham Airport is one of the first UK airports to meet the 1st June Government deadline for the implementation of new security screening standards for passenger and cabin baggage. However, certain liquid restrictions will remain in place.
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 new larger security 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.
Airport CEO Nick Barton has told us today, they're hoping the work will be finished over the next few weeks.
He's also blamed "the power of social media" over the issue of long queues at the site.
"This is all about the perception and I totally understand it and I deeply regret it when people are worried about travelling.
"So yes I understand when people think this is happening all the time. We've done our very best to explain that it's not. But we're not powerful enough to create a dominant adgenda in social media, it does what it does."
We've also spoken to Wes and Pete who flew out to Cyprus from there this week. they waited over 3 hours to get through.
"It took us almost 3 hours and that's without time to go to the toilet, pop for a drink, go to duty free. The whole thing was just on our feet in queues then rushing to the plane, it was unbelievably stressful.
"The lack of organisation, the complacency and the laziness and contempt that they have for their customers, and to face that queue that they just don't tell you about has just put me off going from Birmingham Airport, I don't think we'll do it from now on."