Andy Burnham warns queues and disruption at Manchester Airport will continue for ‘two months’

Andy Burnham has offered advice to travellers amid the ongoing disruption at Manchester Airport, which he predicts will continue for ‘the foreseeable future’.

Following his meeting with airport bosses yesterday, the mayor issued a statement to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), where he said the issues being experienced by Manchester Airport are ‘beyond their control’. 

Burnham began by acknowledging that passengers have faced an ‘unacceptable experience’, before noting the importance of taking ‘every possible step to prevent a repeat’.

His statement continued: “Yesterday I met with the senior management of Manchester Airport to get a clearer understanding of the current situation.

“Some of the issues being experienced by Manchester Airport are beyond their control. However, that is not to say that other things could not have been done differently.”

He said that while the airport has made efforts to recruit, ‘more should have been done earlier’, and that its communication to passengers ahead of and upon arrival should have been better, as should the management of the queues.

At this, Burnham offered three pieces of advice to passengers travelling from the airport in the coming days and weeks:

• Arrive at the airport three hours before your flight.
• Check your baggage into the hold in advance if possible.
• If you have to carry hand luggage please try to minimise it and ensure it is correctly packed before you leave home.

He said that the ‘disruption is not going to disappear overnight’, so this advice will have to be in place for the foreseeable future.

In his statement, the mayor then outlined a number of new measures to be put in place to help with the lengthy queues and delays.

“First, to reduce pressure at security the airport management are increasing use of overtime and bringing in temporary staff.

Read More: New photos show ‘chaotic scenes’ as abandoned luggage piles up at Manchester Airport

“Second, additional staff are being engaged to help organise the large numbers of people passing through the airport and better information will be provided to passengers who are queuing, as well as steps to look after the welfare of those experiencing long queue times.

“Third, more real-time information on security queues will be published on the Manchester Airport website and some airlines are starting to offer passengers the ability to check in their bags the night before if they are taking an early flight.”

Greater Manchester Police have also increased police presence at the airport, while Transport for Greater Manchester staff will be deployed to assist with queue management and communications.

He concluded his statement by announcing that 220 staff have been recruited at the airport and are currently awaiting clearance, though the process is taking ‘longer than usual’.

This comes just days after Manchester Airport’s managing director Karen Smart stepped down from her position.

She resigned on resigned on the same day political leaders and unions met with airport bosses to discuss the ‘concerning’ situation.