Airports brace for ‘carnage’ in busiest days since pandemic

End of half term fuels fear of more chaos after travellers complain of ‘horrific’ experiences

AIRPORTS across the UK are bracing for their busiest weekend since the start of the pandemic as families return from half-term holidays and visiting relatives.

A sharp rise in numbers returning home has prompted concerns that arrivals may cause a repeat of the chaos in departures earlier this week, when holidaymakers spent hours in queues.

Airports are urging passengers to limit the amount of luggage they take through security, and ensure they are prepared for the process by checking baggage regulations in advance.

Gatwick and Bristol airports are among those expecting to see the highest number of passengers since 2019 over this weekend.

Travellers yesterday complained on social media about “carnage” at Bristol Airport, which has processed up to 30,000 customers flying on some days.

“Enormous queue to even get the car out the drop-off zone, let alone the 200m queue just to get in the terminal with your bags,” said one. Another complained of a “horrific experience” at the airport as it processed more than 120 flights over the course of the day.

Customers also complained of long waits for luggage as they returned home from their holidays, with one traveller saying he was left waiting three hours after a flight to Manchester Airport.

Footage from earlier in the week showed passengers clambering into the luggage carousel in an attempt to find their bags after long waits.

Bristol Airport said it was not seeing any major delays and was recruiting and training 300 new members of staff.

“We’re seeing strong demand for car parking as business travel returns and customers go on a well-deserved holiday, city break, or to meet up with friends and family,” a spokesman said.

The aviation sector is experiencing staff shortages, after it laid off 30,000 employees because of pandemic travel restrictions.

Industry figures say the disruption, which has led to thousands of flights being cancelled, could get worse over the summer months, as airlines struggle to recruit staff but continue to sell tickets to claw back their losses from two years of travel disruption.

The Government has raised the prospect of automatic refunds for travellers who it says may have been unfairly sold tickets for holidays they cannot go on.

The chaos has prompted Michael O’leary, the Ryanair chief, to call for the Army to step in to relieve pressure on airport security. The aviation sector and the Government have traded accusations over who is to blame for the crisis, with Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, criticised for rejecting calls for an emergency visa for aviation workers from abroad. The Government has argued that it was the responsibility of the aviation industry to recruit adequate numbers of staff as travel restrictions were eased, and has told the sector to step up recruitment.

SIR – On Wednesday I collected my son and his wife from Manchester Airport. Parking cost me more than their combined flights from Pescara on the Italian Adriatic coast. Who says the tourist industry is in a bit of a mess? Tony Palframan

Disley, Cheshire

SIR – Gurpreet Narwan reported (June 2) on the long queues for water refills at Stansted airport. The main reason that the queues exist is the scandalous price of bottled water at all airports.

It’s even worse abroad. In Corfu airport on Thursday a 330ml bottle of Evian was €2.90. That’s about £7.50 a litre – more than four times the unprecedented price of diesel. What’s more there aren’t any water refill points at Corfu.

It’s immoral, and poses a health risk, particularly to the elderly and children in family groups caught up in the chaos of flight cancellations and long delays. Robin Debell

Yetminster, Dorset