Airport passengers have been told to arrive three hours early to avoid security checkpoint queues amid a row over the government’s U-turn over the 100ml limit for liquids in hand luggage.
EasyJet is advising its passengers to turn up an extra hour early for flights from Birmingham Airport, after growing security checkpoint queues left passengers queuing outside the building. Travelers should arrive an hour earlier than if they were flying from another UK airport, the airline said.
The advice comes as the Airport Operators’ Association (AOA) took the government to task for its surprise U-turn, in a highly unusual move for the travel industry, which normally shies away from criticizing officials.
The rules were expected to change in early June, allowing passengers to take bottles of up to two liters, but last Friday the government announced the 100ml limit would remain in place and said new security scanners were not yet ready.
Countries across Europe have successfully relaxed the 100ml rule, with several countries using scanners made by the same companies approved by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Karen Dee, chief executive of the AOA, said the change had been made with “very little notice” and was “creating uncertainty” for travelers “just as airports are entering their busiest times of the year”.
“It has also left airport operators in a challenging position, with very limited time to prepare for the additional staff and wider resources this will require, and there is no clear idea of when this issue will be resolved,” she added to it.
“All airports are investing hundreds of millions of pounds to deliver this huge program of technology and program upgrades mandated by the government, with equipment and processes that meet their requirements.
“We ask all passengers to please bear with us and ensure liquids are carried in containers no larger than 100ml until advised otherwise.”
Ms Dee’s comments come after EasyJet advised that passengers should arrive at Birmingham Airport three hours before departure
In a post on prevent possible delays and facilitate check-in.”
A spokesperson insisted the airline’s advice to passengers was not related to the government’s U-turn on the 100ml limit.
Airports had been waiting for the green light from the DfT to use the new scanners with containers larger than 100ml, with six having already lifted the limit.
The new machines feature modern 3D X-ray technology that officials had previously approved for use at other airports – including London Southend – with the higher liquid limit.
One company, Leidos, made similar so-called ‘next-generation security checkpoint’ (NGSC) scanners that were in use at London City and Leeds Bradford airports. Both airports had a higher liquid limit for hand luggage before the government’s announcement on Friday.
Leidos was one of the suppliers of the so-called 3D CT scanners approved by DfT – including Smiths Detection, Analogic, IDSS Holdings, Nuctech and Rapiscan – whose technology has been used successfully across Europe.
Rapiscan supplies Tallinn Airport, where travelers can take bottles of up to two liters in their hand luggage, with no upper limit. The Estonian airport installed, configured, tested and commissioned its new 3D CT scanners in just five weeks earlier this year.
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport allows passengers to take bottles larger than 100ml in their hand luggage on flights, as does Helsinki, which is supplied by Smiths Detection through a subsidiary called Machine Tool.
There is no evidence that any of these companies are not compliant with DfT security standards.
Earlier this week, Birmingham Airport became the first to break ranks and blame the government for causing problems for passengers. Bosses at Midlands Airport had expected Department for Transport (DfT) officials to lift the liquid limit from June 1, and had “designed and equipped” a new £60 million security checkpoint hall around scanners that could handle larger bottles. The new scanners are made by Smiths Detection.
A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport told The Telegraph: “Our new security zone has been designed and resourced to accommodate the increase to two liters of hand luggage. This space cannot currently be used with the temporary restriction.”
A spokesperson for Smiths Detection said: “This is an industry-wide measure and will impact all suppliers of [NGSC] equipment. As a leader in the sector, our work naturally depends on very close cooperation with each regulator, so that we can respond quickly and responsibly to changing regulations.
“We are constantly working to update our technology solutions and adapt to changing national and international regulatory standards. Our mission is to make the world a safer place.”
The government stressed that nothing has changed for passengers and that the U-turn on the 100ml rule is only “temporary”.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The temporary reintroduction of the 100ml liquid restriction at some airports is intended to allow time to further improve systems.
“It only affects those traveling from six regional airports [NGSC] were already fully operational – around six percent of all British air passengers.
“For most passengers, safety measures will remain unchanged from those in place since 2006. Passengers should continue to check security requirements at the airport of departure before traveling.”
In addition, research published on Thursday found that Britons are now embracing “slow travel”, with one in four travelers no longer able to fly due to ever-increasing delays at airports.
A survey by travel website HolidayPirates found that a further third of British adults have avoided flying at least once in the past year, which they said signaled a shift towards “alternative ways of travelling”.
The companies have been contacted for comment.