Passengers have hit out at “chaos” at Belfast International Airport on Saturday as large queues lead to significant delays.
There are claims that only two of six lanes at the airport’s security hall were open with workers admitting they were understaffed as “stressed” travellers faced the risk of missing flights.
In a statement to Belfast Live, the airport has admitted they experienced staffing issues this morning and branded the delays “totally unacceptable”.
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One passenger also said that two escalators were not working, meaning that the stairs on the way to the check-in desks was a “sea of people”. She added that it “was a health and safety crisis”.
Jimmy Stafford, a Highland Radio DJ and Producer, was one of those caught up in the situation. He told Belfast Live it was “chaos” as he waited to board a flight to Liverpool. He added that his easyJet flight was delayed to allow passengers on. Mr Stafford said airport staff were admitting to travellers that there were “no staff” which lead to massive queues.
Deirdre Shakespeare was also delayed by the hold-ups and said staffing levels had lead to a “very stressful situation”. She and others at the airport said that only two of six lanes were open.
A number of people took to Twitter/X to complain of the “shambles” with some saying the atmosphere had become “agressive”. The scenes unfolded just weeks after Belfast International Airport unveiled new security measures which would “make your journey smoother” including scanners that mean you no longer have to remove electronics and small bottles of liquids from bags.
The chaos may have cost the airport money too, it was suggested, with one traveller saying many passengers had to rush through departures to catch flights leaving them with no time to stop for breakfast.
A spokesperson for Belfast International Airport: “This morning our security facility suffered a significant staff shortage due to short term illness that resulted in delays for passengers that were totally unacceptable, and we apologise unreservedly for this. We are working closely with our security provider to resolve the issue and enact our contingency plans to ensure our passengers are not inconvenienced any further.
“Security wait times are currently back to normal, and passengers are moving well through the facility. Any passengers impacted by the issues this morning are asked to contact the airport directly on [email protected]. We thank all our passengers for their patience and understanding.”
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