Low-cost airline Ryanair is calling on Belgium’s Walloon government to take swift action to solve the shortage of security personnel at Charleroi Airport. In the first weeks of April alone, 2,000 passengers missed their flight due to long queues at security checks, according to the airline. Ryanair suggests additional security personnel or even the military should be deployed to sort it.
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Ryanair requests extra security staff after 2,000 passengers miss flights due to security delays
Colin Clapson
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Irish carrier Ryanair says passengers experienced delays of up to 90 minutes at security checks in recent weeks. With the Easter weekend approaching, traditionally one of the busiest weekends of the year at the airport, this has to change, Ryanair argues.
The problem also occurred during the Christmas holidays. ‘We have been asking the airport to solve this for several months now. They have not succeeded, so now we are asking the Walloon government to ensure that families can travel smoothly over the Easter weekend,’ Neal McMaham, chief operations officer told VRT NEWS.
Security at half capacity
Today, due to a lack of security staff, usually only half of the 11 available passenger security lanes are open at Charleroi airport. "Unacceptable," says Ryanair.
Ryanair makes 2 proposals to solve the problem. The first option is to deploy a second security firm to provide personnel to ensure that all lanes are open. Something that has been done in the past.
The second suggestion made by the carrier to solve the problem goes even further and involves deploying trained military personnel, something that has already been done at other European airports.
The Walloon government is said to be looking into the problem, but Ryanair stresses that urgent action is needed now, on the eve of the Easter weekend.