Watch: We ask Birmingham - how do you deal with delays at Birmingham Airport?

Recent years have seen Birmingham Airport come under a lot of scrutiny for flight delays. Currently there are huge renovations underway to improve security which will mean the 100ml liquid rule in hand luggage will change next year - amid other updates.

I find out what people would suggest to avoid getting caught up in the disruption and also what the Airport suggests for travellers. Sophia says: “I’ve not had any experiences of flight delays from Birmingham Airport - or any of the other UK airports. I think when I have travelled from Birmingham and I have known about flight delays due to strikes or due to travel issues, I’ve always made sure that I’ve left sufficient time.

“So gotten there extra early, got to the airport maybe four hours in advance instead of three hours in advance, just to make sure that I’m there for check in and that I can clear security in time to be able to get onto my flight.”

Meg says: “I personally haven’t been abroad since before COVID. So I’ve not experienced anything myself. And we’re actually going away in September. So I don’t know if there’s anything in particular we can do to prepare for it.

“I mean, just turning up, make sure that there’s plenty of time if there are delays to try and maybe sorte something else out. But yeah, I’m not really sure what else we can do other than hope and pray it goes well.” David says: “​Take plenty of things to read on the iPad. And have plenty to drink at Wetherspoons!”

An investigation found that Birmingham Airport was the worst in the UK for flight delays for the second year in a row - with departures being half an hour behind schedule on average in 2022. So what advice does the Airport have for travellers?

Simon Evans, Spokesperson for Birmingham Airport, says: “Just in terms of travel advice for customers using Birmingham Airport at this time, we are building a new state of the art security facility. And when it’s finished in June 2024 that will mean that customers no longer have to remove liquids and laptops from their bags when they go through the X-ray scanners in the preflight security area.

“However, until that happens, existing rules still apply. So what we would tell people at the moment  - just remind them that while you’re going through the existing security facility at Birmingham Airport, which remains operational, the existing rules still apply.

“So liquids and laptops need to come out of hand luggage before you go through the X-ray scanners. And of course the other piece of advice is if you’re flying out of Birmingham Airport, please arrive at least two hours before your flight so you can get all the necessary bits and pieces done and have an easy flow through our airport.”