New Website Highlights Airport Security Delays Across UK
A new website has recently been launched which focuses on providing a platform for passengers using airports across the UK’s network to complain about the time element of their experiences there. At the heart of the website – www.ukairportdelays.co.uk – is a table which, based on the information provided, displays a ranking for the main UK hubs in respect of their performance – as judged by the general public.
The instigation of the website coincides with the attacks being launched from various sources on the current state of some airports. Most prominent is London Heathrow, which business leaders have labelled a national disgrace. Indeed, the Airport’s (ex) Chief Executive recently made some extremely direct and negative comments regarding the facilities at Heathrow, which Airport International covered in depth in a previous News Item.
A Press Release issued by the website’s owner – Travel Counsellors – marked the official opening on July 17th 2007. Since then, only limited numbers of people have left comments, but, amongst those that have, some surprising and informative data has already emerged. London Heathrow and Gatwick Airports did figure in terms of the longest delays experienced while at check in, but, with 33 minutes and 18 minutes respectively, were not the worst performing. As detailed by those who use it, East Midland Airport has so far received the most votes – this generated by waiting times of up to 74 minutes.
In other airport areas, the longest security delay is to be found at Liverpool (John Lennon) Airport, where waits of 70 minutes have been reported.
Travel Counsellors itself is a collective of home-based travel agents, spearheaded by founder and chairman, David Speakman. Commenting in the recent Press Release, he drew attention to the uniqueness of the site, and to its future potential, stating: “This website is the first of its kind to allow passengers to pinpoint exactly when, where and for how long they have been delayed while waiting for flights in UK airports. These results will enable us to form a body of evidence, showing that UK authorities need to take serious action.”
While acknowledging that security is paramount across the airline industry, Mr Speakman attributes much of the delays currently being experienced to logistical matters. In this regards, he added: “I'm angry at the appalling way in which British airports have put extra security arrangements in place. Security is absolutely essential in this day and age, but it's a complete myth that extra security has to come with extra delays”.
“Many of the queues we now face at airports are entirely avoidable and are just caused by poor processes and lack of staff."
Source – Airport International’s Chief Journalist
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