Frustrated passengers are yet again stuck in enormous queues at Birmingham Airport as the post-lockdown chaos continues, with Bristol Airport customers also enduring long waits this morning.
One passenger urged those hoping to get on a flight at the West Midlands travel hub on Tuesday to arrive five hours ahead of time due to the length of the lines.
As early as 4am today the queues for security were snaking a long way back through the departure hall and up escalators.
The fact that the airport's services are overwhelmed so early in the morning suggests yesterday's chaotic scenes may be repeated later today as more passengers arrive for their holidays.
On Monday dismay abounded at BHX when security services became so flooded that passengers had to queue a significant way outside the terminal building.
The scenes were variously described as "absolute chaos" and "manic".
A number of factors have been blamed for what is becoming a regular feature at Birmingham Airport just two months before the city is due to host the Commonwealth Games.
They include staff shortages, a lack of Border Force officials and the spike in demand for travel as Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in the UK.
Speaking from Birmingham Airport, passenger Richard Bliss said: "Yet another ridiculously poor experience at BHX this AM.
"Security queue both upstairs and downstairs. Time for the management team to resign."
Jamie Bradshaw wrote on Twitter : "OMG queues for security are ridiculous!!!
"Anyone flying from here at the moment I'd suggest turning up at least 4hrs before your flight is due to depart."
And Jon Rowe opined: "The queues at Birmingham Airport are worse than the media are reporting!
"Give yourself at least 5hrs before your flight!"
There have also been reports of big delays at Bristol Airport this morning, where passengers have said security queues are running down the stairs into the departure lounge.
Bosses at the West County terminus apologised for the lengthy waits and blamed staff shortages for the delays yesterday.
Today passenger Steven Clarey said that the airport had become an "absolute shambles".
"Massive queues at check in/bag drop, staff running around like headless chickens, passengers stressing, security queues out of the security area, down the stairs and into departures," he tweeted.
"Will be doing everything possible to avoid this airport going forwards."
Shortly after 2am today Steve Noble wrote: "What a joke Bristol Airport is.
"Late plane finally gets in, no staff to bloody put the steps up. You milk us for enough money on the site, at least try and get the basics right.
"A lot of tired passengers now stuck on stationary plane."
The picture at Bristol does seem to be a more mixed one than its Birmingham counterpart, with some passengers saying that they got through to their gate with no issue and others posting photos of themselves with early morning pints.
In another patch of slightly brighter news, operations seem to be running much more smoothly at Manchester Airport today than yesterday and many other occasions over previous weeks.
The lines at the departure gate were much shorter and moving quicker today than on Monday.
A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said: “We apologise to customers impacted by above average queue times during early morning peak operations on Tuesday 10 May; airline check-in/bag-drop did not exceed 35 minutes with security experiencing a maximum queue time of 40 minutes.
"We work closely with all business partners to ensure staffing levels are sufficient to provide a good service to passengers with an average queue time of 30 minutes for security during peak times.
"However, on some occasions staff shortages can impact on waiting times and service standards. We constantly review resourcing across all areas and adapt plans to meet demand and build in resilience where possible.
“We have seen a strong increase in passenger numbers since the end of all Covid-19 restrictions. There is a huge pent-up demand for travel which has built up over the past two years during the pandemic and we are expecting a busy summer.
“Whilst recruiting and training new colleagues for the airport can take time, the Bristol Airport team and business partners will be working hard to ensure all customers have a smooth and easy journey through our terminal.
"We advise all customers to arrive in the terminal a minimum of two hours before scheduled flight departure time to allow sufficient time to complete all the necessary check-in, bag-drop, security, and boarding processes ahead of their flight.”
Birmingham Airport has been contacted for comment.
