Delays at Birmingham airport - any end in sight?

Famau

I am travelling from Birmingham airport in a couple of weeks' time.  Resigned to the massive queues that are reported daily and look awful (no escalators or stairs to security, and only a couple of lifts operating I understand). 

However, I also have a trip booked for late September.  I am thinking about cancelling that and going from another airport - there is a modest additional cost.  I've tried to find out from the airport website and media announcements when they expect the chaos to end - but there is nothing helpful - just reference to "foreseeable future".  If I was running a major airport I'd hope that I could be a little more specific !

Does anyone have any idea?  Are things likely to be better in 3 months' time?  And does anyone know why the airport seems unable to post even a high level summary of its overall project schedule and progress against it?  It's not too much to ask or expect, surely....

JGB1955

We travelled to Lanzarote from BHX in early May.  Hand luggage only. Flight was 09:00-ish, arrived at the terminal at 06:15.  Held in a (short) queue whilst we went up the escalator, maybe 5 at a time, (no lifts in operation) then another queue to find there were only 2 baggage scanners in operation.  Were in departures by 7:00.  I think it gets worse, the later in the day.  No problems at all coming back.  In the car 20 minutes after landing.  We're off again, using BHX, in the autumn.  Not particularly worried about it....

Alan_Bowen

The airport has refused to give an end date, currently, there are no stairs or escalators to the security hall, just 2 lifts which creates a huge bottleneck, The problem is for the first wave of flights, it seems that by 0930 the airport returns to almost normal. One day only one of the scanners were working and people missed their flights, I wouldn't book any more flights until the matter is resolved, not helped by the announcement yesterday that the government has reverted to the old policy of all liquids limited to 100 ml and in a plastic bag when the whole purpose of the new scanners was to allow liquids up to 2 ltrs and to be kept inside hand luggage rather than separate

daveyjp

Leeds Bradford is also reverting to the old system.

From a report on local TV the 100ml limit is being brought back because the new scanners were highlighting too many anomalies resulting in more bag checks thereby increasing queues!  Leeds Bradford were however wise before the event as they never actually told passengers the 100ml rule was no longer applicable, changing back isn't causing too many issues.