‘Stick to the travel rules... and don’t turn up too early’

AIRPORT ADVICE TO HELP AVOID UNNECESSARY CONGESTION

have been asked not to turn up for their flights too early as airports prepare for the big summer getaway.

Bosses at East Midlands Airport have issued advice to passengers in a bid to make things run smoothly this summer, including calling on them not to arrive at the airport before they need to.

The Castle Donington airport is braced for about 1.3 million passengers to file through its doors between now and the end of August, with many families getting away for the summer for the first time since 2019, before Covid struck.

However, with these high numbers comes potential risks of delays, with airport bosses now urging people to stick to their advice to ensure their holidays go to plan.

Since Covid19 restrictions were lifted earlier this year, the airport has reported that passenger numbers have recovered quickly, with latest figures showing numbers are now around two-thirds of what they were before the pandemic.

Daily volumes of people coming through the airport are eight times higher than last summer, and as the industry gets back on its feet, officials believe it could put pressure on various parts of the airport’s operation with a busy summer season ahead.

Clare James, the airport’s managing director, said everyone at the airport was working hard to ensure things went to plan.

She said: “It has been great seeing so many passengers using this airport again.

“As we approach the peak sumHOLIDAYMAKERS mer weeks, people flying from EMA can be confident that we are all working very hard to ensure their holidays get off to the best possible start.”

At present, the average time for passengers getting through security is about 15 minutes – but to maintain that over the busy summer, the head of security has asked travellers to make sure they follow the rules.

Michael Grimes, the airport’s director of customer services and security, believes that because many will not have travelled since the start of the pandemic, there is an added chance for delays – and reiterated the rules to try to avoid these.

“Please can all passengers arrive at the terminal for check-in or bag drop at the time suggested by their airline, not before and not after,” he said.

“Arriving too early can add to queue lengths and can create congestion.

“Restrictions on liquids, including hand sanitiser, carried in hand luggage continue to apply.

“Avoid these being confiscated by ensuring they are under 100ml and fit in a single clear, resealable bag.”

Mr Grimes also offered advice on electronic items such as laptops and tablets, reminding people to take them out of hand luggage and place them in trays when in the security area.

“Please ensure these are easy to find and aren’t buried at the bottom of a bag,” he said.

Arriving too early can add to queue lengths and can create congestion. Michael Grimes, East Midlands Airport