Manchester Airport has apologised after hundreds of passengers faced lengthy security queues, causing some to miss flights. Travellers reported waiting for hours, with many expressing frustration on social media.
The airport cited unexpectedly high passenger numbers as putting "considerable strain" on staff, while 60% of bags were rejected at security checkpoints. One passenger, Paul Keegan, described the airport as "one of the most chaotic in the world" after waiting five hours to board a flight to Dublin.
Hundreds of passengers were forced to queue in the car park outside Terminal 1, with the line snaking around three times. Some had already checked in their bags but were sent back outside to join the security queue.
Mike Wood, delayed for two hours on a connection to Chicago, said the experience had "put him off travelling completely". He added: "The airport must have known months ahead how volumes of people were increasing after lockdown."
A spokesman for the airport said the "rapid recovery of international travel" made it "more difficult to predict passenger volumes" and apologised to those affected. The airport urged travellers to arrive at the earliest recommended time by their airline.
