Lengthy Security Lines Caused Missed Flights, Belfast Travelers Frustrated

Belfast International Airport (BFS) has long received passenger complaints over its lengthy security lines. It’s now looking to add to the number of available security lanes by expanding these areas. However, this expansion work has temporarily decreased the number of lanes, which led some to miss their flights on Monday morning.

Lengthy security lines have long been an on-going source of frustration for passengers at Belfast International Airport (BFS), reports the BBC. The facility is now in the process of increasing the number of available lanes from six to eight, but conversely, this seems to have added to passengers’ frustration as this expansion has meant temporarily decreasing the number of operational lanes down to just five.

On Monday morning, the outlet reports that security lines at BFS stretched outside of the facility, leaving a number of passengers to wait in the cold. Some posted about their experience on social media and speaking to the BBC, passenger Bernie Brown was succinct in her assessment of the situation.

Belfast International Airport – It’s always bad, but today was just crazy! @belfastairport pic.twitter.com/XuFqGJzxYN

— Love Belfast ❤️ (@love_belfast) March 11, 2019

Missed an important flight to London this morning for work. Queues for security were out the door of the terminal and no updates or info available from Belfast International management. Not good enough @belfastairport pic.twitter.com/IaGa1SUWJY

— Beth (@Bethmollylou) March 11, 2019

“People are frustrated,” she said. She explained that, due to these long lines, 36 passengers on her Edinburgh-bound service had missed their flight.

Graham Keddie, BFS’s managing director, confirmed to BBC Radio Ulster that 70 passengers had missed their flights that morning. He was quoted by the Belfast Telegraph as describing the current situation at BFS as “embarrassing and humiliating”.

He offered his reassurances that situation would be resolved by Easter, but asked that passengers ensure that they arrive two hours before departure in order to clear security.

Wilson James is the facility’s current security provider.

Offering their comments, a spokesperson for the company told the BBC, “We support Belfast International Airport in its aim of improving the passenger journey through the security screening area of the airport and we share the airport’s feelings of this morning’s queues which proved challenging whilst operating five out of six the lanes during ongoing building work.”

“The sixth lane will be back in operation this week followed by the additional two lanes in time for Easter,” they added.

[Source: iStock]