The managing director of the UK's busiest airport outside London has quit after weeks of chaos for travellers. Karen Smart has stepped down from her role at Manchester Airport where queues have trailed outside terminals to reach check-in, with hordes of people then left waiting to get through security and to pick up luggage.
Ms Smart said she will return to the south of England for family reasons and to "pursue fresh career opportunities", said her bosses. The airport, along with much of the aviation industry, has struggled to recruit staff made redundant after the pandemic shut down airports and travel.
This week, the resulting backlash from passengers led local MP Graham Stringer to challenge management to ‘get a grip or get out’, the Manchester Evening News reports. The problems have led to piles of suitcases being abandoned in terminals after travellers gave up the wait to reclaim their baggage and instead went home.
