Birmingham Airport delays: What you need to know (2024)

Published

3 May 2024

Passengers have been warned ahead of another busy bank holiday weekend and half term break at Birmingham Airport.

About 221,500 people were expected to fly over the nine-day period between 24 May and 2 June, an increase of 15% on last year, an airport spokesperson said.

Large queues and delays have been seen at the airport in recent weeks, with some passengers taking 90 minutes or longer to get through security due to building works.

Birmingham Airport said it's queuing area was "still changeable" and advised people to arrive at the airport for when check-in opens.

"We are preparing for another busy half term holiday, with customers jetting off to take advantage of the bank holiday and school half term,” a spokesperson said.

“Our security queuing area is still changeable, and customers should follow the direction of our customer teams when at the airport, who are on hand to help.”

A number of passengers were left stranded earlier this week after a meet-and-greet parking firm at the airport halted services and left passengers unable to access their cars.

Birmingham Airport is constructing a new "simpler and streamlined" security search area., external

It has been undergoing the improvements for more than a year, with the multi-million-pound upgrades nearing completion.

But the building works have resulted in some delays for passengers during busy periods, with a new walking route to the security area in place.

A number of passengers missed their flights, with social media posts showing crowds of people waiting near lifts or queuing outside.

The airport "has been a working building site for 18 months, and continues to be, while we build for our future with a new security area," a spokesperson said on Friday.

Al Titterington, terminal operations director, previously said construction had removed a "significant" area of space and had been "very challenging" at times.

"Customers will be using unfamiliar routes around the airport as we build our new security area and for this we apologise," he said.

Check-in usually opens, external about four hours before long-haul flights and two to three hours before short-haul journeys.

“Each airline has its own check-in time and customers are reminded to turn up in line when their check-in opens - this detail can be found on their booking," a spokesperson said.

Passengers who have checked in online and have no hold baggage have been advised to arrive three hours before departure time and to make their way straight to the security area.

The airport said customers travelling with Jet2 or TUI could drop their bags off the day before their flight, external, heading straight to security on the day they travel.

The airport has reminded passengers that liquid restrictions are still in place for hand luggage.

A spokesperson added: "For customers travelling with liquids in their hand luggage, please do remember that these cannot exceed 100ml.

"With our new scanners, liquids, pastes and gels no longer need to be in plastic bags, and can be loose within hand luggage".

All items, including phones, keys, coins and tissues, as well as belts, should also be removed and taken out of pockets, but watches can be left on.

Electronic devices should also be removed from their cases and placed in a separate tray.

According to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), passengers cannot claim compensation from airlines if they miss a flight for reasons beyond an airline’s control, external, such as bad weather, airport delays, air traffic control strikes or other "extraordinary circ*mstances".

Some Birmingham Airport passengers earlier in May complained of being left "out of pocket" after purchasing new flights when they missed their intended plane due to delays, described as "absolutely shambolic" and a "nightmare".

In other circ*mstances, where it is considered to be the airline's fault that a flight is cancelled or delayed by more than two hours, passengers have a number of rights under UK law., external

Passengers can check if their flights are delayed or on time by going to their airline's website and entering the details of their flight.

Further information on arrivals and departures is also available on Birmingham Airport's website., external

A number of official car parks are available for passengers to pre-book through the airport's website.

Some people had been left stranded at the airport earlier this week after parking firm Blue Circle Parking abruptly ceased operations at the site.

One woman told the BBC it took eight hours to track down her vehicle, after she received no response to her calls when returning in the early hours of the morning.

Birmingham Airport said at the time, external it had been informed that Blue Circle Parking had "suspended operations."

Booking agent Holiday Extras said on its website, external the firm was experiencing some "operational challenges" in Birmingham and Maple Parking, Airparks and the airport had stepped in.

All bookings have been moved to another "trusted" parking provider, a spokesperson added.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, external, X,, external and Instagram, external, Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk, external

Related Topics