Increased travel demand after Covid restrictions lifted The increased appetite for foreign travel has seen both airports nearing their busiest levels since the pandemic began in 2020. This has led to the airports struggling to cope with the sheer number of travellers passing through the terminals this spring.
Why are the queues so big at Birmingham Airport?
The airports were forced to lay staff off during the pandemic and are now having to recruit and train new staff, which is also affecting security queues. Birmingham Airport admitted it has had issues with staff shortages.
What’s the problem with Birmingham Airport?
As with airports across the country, Birmingham Airport has been struggling with the return to normality of travel following the pandemic, during which hundreds of members of staff were made redundant. To help alleviate the problem, a new cohort of security officers will start work early next month.
Are there big queues at Birmingham Airport?
The airport sees around 35,000 passengers pass through every day on average. Huge queues have snaked around the airport in recent weeks, but the airport says it has recruited new security staff in a bit to solve the problem. It has said that many new staff are still being trained and asked passengers to be patient.
What is causing the queues at airport?
The shortages are largely down to the pandemic when the global airline industry made more than four million workers redundant. Now, as many people book their first holidays since the onset of the pandemic, there aren’t enough staff to meet demand.
How early should I get to Birmingham Airport uk 2022?
4 hours before long haul flights (flights between 6-12 hours) 2 or 3 hours before short haul flights (flights between 3-6 hours)
How long is the wait at security at Birmingham Airport?
about 10 minutes
Birmingham Airport (BHM) TSA Security Wait Time Information. Flying from Birmingham Airport? If yes, then you should arrive at the airport 2 hours before your departure time for security checks. The wait time of BHM airport is about 10 minutes, but during peak hours it may increase as well.
Are there still delays at Birmingham Airport today?
No delays. You can see the latest information on delayed and cancelled flights at Birmingham Airport, here.
What is causing delays at UK airports?
“Staff shortages have been the main culprit of flight cancellations and delays after the air-travel industry laid off thousands of workers during the pandemic,” explains Nicky.
How early should I arrive at the Birmingham AL airport?
60 to 90 minutes
In order to ensure the smoothest, most pleasant airport experience possible, we advise you to follow your airline’s suggested guidelines for advance check-in. We also recommend arriving at the airport 60 to 90 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time, so as to allow sufficient time for TSA clearance and boarding.
How do you avoid airport queues?
If you really want to avoid airport queues – check your airport’s website for Fast Track Security. It’s usually included as standard with premium and business class flights. You can book a time slot in advance and breeze through security.
How long does it take to clear customs Birmingham Airport?
Passengers should expect the process to take up to 25 minutes* to clear with the additional Covid measures in place.
What is causing the airport chaos?
Resource concerns have impacted every part of the airline sector this year, which can cause the tight margins on which carriers rely to collapse. The disruption has been ascribed to a lack of staff that provide various services like jet refuelling, baggage handling and running check-in counters.
Why is there airport staff shortage?
The labour shortage
The market was particularly hit by the pandemic and losses have been huge for most airlines during the two years of continuous restrictions. When COVID-19 hit, airlines and airports had to let go of a huge part of their staff. They depended on government bailouts and drastic job cuts to carry on.
Why are airport queues so long in the UK?
For airports, there are staff shortages across everyone from airport security staff to ground handlers, which in itself slows down the process and creates delays.
Do you really need to arrive 2 hours before a flight?
When you’re traveling within the United States, we make the suggestion to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure. For most airports, you must be checked in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time (airports requiring additional time are listed below, Go to footer note).
What time is busiest at Birmingham Airport?
“Peak times tend to be first thing, 4am to 8am, and then from 1pm to 4pm, although this can vary day to day,” the airport said on Twitter. “Our ask is for customers to arrive at the airport precisely when your airlines advise. Arriving way earlier just adds to congestion in the terminal.”
How much earlier should I be at the airport 2022?
The best advice is to get there three hours ahead, and even if you have a pre-printed boarding pass, don’t just go through security and wait for your flight to be called. Check in for the flight the minute you get to the airport. Since flights are full, someone perceived as a no-show is replaced quickly with standbys.
How quickly can I get through airport security?
Wait 5 Minutes or Less
In September 2022, 93% of TSA PreCheck® passengers waited less than 5 min.
Why are there airport Delays?
Many delays and cancellations are because of an industry-wide pilot shortage. In addition, the legacy carriers and regional operators don’t have enough staff for various reasons. As a result, airlines are combining routes or discontinuing services when necessary to offset staffing shortages.
Is Express Lane at Birmingham Airport worth it?
Birmingham Airport offers an Express Lane to help passengers get through security quicker. For a fee, holidaymakers and business travellers are able to clear security and make their way to their boarding gate. This is a popular option, particularly when there are delays clearing security.