Passengers have reported facing long queues at Manchester Airport this morning with one describing the scene at security as a 'shambles'.
Pictures shared by frustrated holidaymakers on social media earlier today (Friday) showed long lines of people waiting to get through the security section. Several passengers said that many of the lanes were closed off and 'unstaffed'.
One passenger James said that around five security lanes were open in Terminal 1 - he said there were 13 in total. He tweeted a picture of the long security queue at around 6.15am and said: "Another day another shambles at Manchester Airport . Won’t bother with this airport again."
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He told the Manchester Evening News: "I got here at 4.30am for a 7.30am flight from Terminal 1. I think I'll only get through security by being called up so I don't miss my flight.
"There's 13 security lanes and it looks like five are open." At around 5.40am, Alexander said on Twitter that it took him '75 minutes to go through security alone'.
Some passengers have also reported facing long queues at check-in desks this morning. These queues fall under the responsibility of the airline.
At around 5.50am, Paul tweeted: "1 hour 48 mins to get from check in and through security at #manchesterairport with 50 per cent of security lanes closed."
A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said queues in Terminal 1 and 2 reached up to an hour during peak times this morning. Wait times in Terminal 3 were under an hour, they said.
Queues through security have since gone back down to between 15 and 30 minutes, they added. This follows on from weeks of chaos at Manchester Airport, with scenes of long waits at check-in desks and security, abandoned baggage left in check-in halls and holiday cancellations and delays.
Just last month, the airport issued a candid apology over its staffing crisis which is said to be 'industry-wide' in the tourism sector following on from the Covid pandemic. Since the start of the year, 400 new staff have been employed at the hub to try and tackle the issues.
This morning, an airport spokesperson said 'good progress' is being made in improving security wait times. Passengers are still being advised to arrive three hours before their flight is due to depart.
The spokesperson said: "We apologise to passengers who have had to wait longer than we would like at security this morning. We have welcomed more than 400 new staff into our operation since the turn of the year and are making good progress in improving security wait times.
"Most passengers will get through security within half an hour, but we continue to advise there will be occasions where queues rise higher, like the brief spell this morning. Our teams work hard to reduce waiting times as quickly as possible, and when it is clear passengers have faced delays in other parts of their airport journey, like check in, we prioritise them at security.
"Passengers are encouraged to arrive at the airport three hours ahead of their flight departure time and to double-check their hand luggage complies with security rules, to avoid any unnecessary hold-ups."
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