Holidaymakers at Birmingham airport have been forced to queue outside again amid ‘utter chaos’ caused by confusion over the 100ml liquid rule.
Huge snaking queues have formed all the way outside the airport yet again, with some claiming they had been there since as early as 4am.
The problem has now spread to Bristol airport as well, where long lines have also started to form following delays in check-in and border control.
Problems with the security checks began after the government made a sudden reversal on the rules concerning the quantity of liquids passengers can carry in their hand luggage when departing from UK airports.
It had originally given approval to some airports to allow passengers to carry up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage, after the installation of new CT scanners, but it has now temporarily re-introduced the 100ml until further notice.
The fresh turmoil for holidaymakers comes after EasyJet passengers were advised to turn up for their flight three hours early from Birmingham Airport.
In a post on X/Twitter, responding to a passenger asking why check-in had been disrupted on Sunday, EasyJet said: ‘We recommend arriving at the airport 3 hours or at least 2 hours before your flight to account for potential delays and facilitate check-in.’
The airline has insisted the advice is not linked to the 100ml liquid limit, reported The Telegraph.
Airports have criticised the Government for the liquid rules U-turn after some airports – including Birmingham – had installed new 3D scanners.
It should have meant the rules were changed on June 1 so passengers could carry liquids up to two litres in their hand luggage.
But the likes of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester were allowed to miss the latest deadline for installing them after various logistical challenges.
Some airports that had installed the new technology had already dropped the 100ml liquid rule.
But last Friday the Department for Transport (DfT) unexpectedly announced airports would have to comply with it once again.
Birmingham Airport had already been told to keep it while it waited for regulatory approval which had been installed in its new £60 million security screening hall.
Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators’ Association, said DfT’s ‘surprise’ announcement ‘was sprung on us with very little time to react’.
She said this ‘created uncertainty for passengers just as airports enter their busiest period’.
‘It has also put airport operators in a challenging position, with very limited time to prepare for the additional staffing and wider resources that this will require, and no clear idea of when this issue will be resolved,’ she added.
‘All airports are investing hundreds of millions of pounds to deliver this huge programme of technology and programme upgrades mandated by Government with equipment and processes to meet their requirements.
‘We ask that all passengers please bear with us and ensure that liquids are carried in containers no larger than 100ml, until advised otherwise.’
Birmingham Airport’s CEO Mr Barton appeared to blame passengers for the delays by not complying with the baggage rules.
‘A non-compliant bag with liquids over 100ml can add up to 20 minutes to each passenger’s journey through security,’ he said.
Mr Barton said the situation was ‘not what we planned’, and a pre-screening facility would next week be set up to ease queues.
He said there had been ‘bedding in’ issues following the opening of the multi-million-pound security hall – with passengers forced to wait in queues snaking out of the terminal to go through security.
Mr Barton told the BBC: ‘Since opening our new security area, and despite being one of the first UK airports to comply, we have been limited on the use of our multi-million-pound equipment due to an outstanding regulatory restriction meaning we had to limit liquids to 100ml.
‘Despite the 100ml rule still being in place, we continually have non-compliant bags with liquids over the allowance which have led to inefficiencies of our equipment and resulted in extended queuing time for customers.
‘It is now imperative that all customers comply with the nationwide rule to ensure a smoother and simpler transition through the airport.’