Birmingham Airport: Latest update on delays, cancellations and queuing times

Here is the latest information on Birmingham Airport
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For many, a summer getaway is the highlight of the year, a chance to take a break and enjoy some sunshine and relaxation. This year, however, continuing problems within the aviation industry, particularly regarding staffing levels, mean for many those precious holidays have been ruined.

The aviation industry laid off thousands during the pandemic. Now, as the sector rebounds, it is struggling to recruit fast enough to meet demand. It’s a problem affecting airports up and down the country, including Birmingham.

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Birmingham Airport has faced intense criticism of late. First, in June, the revelation that Airport chief executive Nick Barton’s annual wage increased from £399,000 to £595,000 last year. Unions called that 49% increase ‘disgraceful’. Then, that bad publicity was followed by this week’s news that the airport is the worst in the UK for delays. Civil Aviation Authority data suggests that departures from the West Midlands airport were on average 12 minutes and 24 seconds late taking off in 2021.

Passengers queue at Birmingham AirportPassengers queue at Birmingham Airport
Passengers queue at Birmingham Airport

So what is the situation now? Visitors to the airport this summer will have seen huge queues snaking around the site. On average, 35,000 people pass through daily, and many will have seen delays, particularly when passing through security. The airport says it has recruited new security staff in a bid to solve the problem. It has said that many new staff are still being trained and asked passengers for their patience.

So what can you do if travelling from Birmingham Airport? Well, most people get there much earlier than usual, sometimes three or four hours before their flight. Passengers are also being advised to regularly check their airlines’ websites in the days and hours prior to departure.

It’s a situation that has put many people off from travelling abroad this year.

Shanice from West Bromwich talks about the cost of living crisisShanice from West Bromwich talks about the cost of living crisis
Shanice from West Bromwich talks about the cost of living crisis
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Speaking to BirminghamWorld, local resident Shanice said her friend’s family’s luggae was lost while flying from the airport.

She said: “I’ve had a friend actually - I’ve actually just remembered - who hasn’t got her luggage now, and she came back about a week ago. And her and her child’s luggage is still in an aeroplane somewhere, she don’t know where. For me that’s really upsetting, because what if my child had medication in that luggage? What if I had paperwork in that luggage? What if my forms to get back into my own country was in that luggage and I can’t get it?”

Birmingham Airport has issued a statement: they say ‘last year was a dark time for aviation’, adding that Birmingham Airport was reduced to just a quarter of normal staffing and capacity due to Covid. They also say that “massive air traffic reductions”, meant that “flights taking off late were able to catch up en route”.

With many still hoping for their first overseas getaway since covid, demand at the airport is only expected to increase, with many crossing their fingers that their summer 2022 break will actually happen.

Are flights cancelled or delayed today? (15 July)

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One flight at Birmingham Airport, which you can see below, has been cancelled so far today.

Ryanair: 3.20pm Bordeaux to Birmingham - flight FR 9374

Here are the flights which have been delayed on Friday (15 July)

Logan Air: flight BA 4110 Birmingham to Isle of Man - scheduled 12:35 - delayed until 13.20

Ryanair: flight FR 667 Birmingham to Dublin - scheduled 15:55 - delayed until 16.30

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Aurigny Air Services: flight GR 707 Birmingham to Guernsey - scheduled 16:05 - delayed until 17:15

Aer Lingus: flight EI 3275 Birmingham to Dublin - scheduled 17.05 - delayed until 17.40

You can see the latest information on delayed and cancelled flights at Birmingham Airport, here.

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