Airlines and airports hope to avoid delays this Easter despite the threat of strikes, but are urging passengers to arrive on time and have cabin bags ready for security checks.
They stress travellers should expect no change to long-standing restrictions on liquids and requirements to remove laptops, phones and other items from carry-on luggage.
Airports are concerned passengers have been misled into thinking restrictions have been relaxed after the government announced the “biggest shake-up of airport security rules in decades” in December, when it set a deadline of June 2024 for airports to install new security scanners.
That has led to some passengers questioning the rules at security. Only Teesside airport and, from April, London City have relaxed the restrictions.
A source at one of the UK’s biggest airports said: “We’re on course to meet the government deadline. [But] airports have concerns about passenger expectations. Some passengers might experience the new system [owing to scanner trials]. But the vast majority won’t. We don’t want people to turn up not expecting the security rules and hold things up.
“We want people to arrive prepared to go through security as normal to avoid delays.”
An airline source explained: “The government is applying pressure to achieve the deadline, but the rules haven’t changed. It’s not just a case of buying new scanners. It’s massively complex. These scanners are heavy. Some airports have to strengthen terminal floors and install new lifts. It’s also about training people to use the scanners.”
The source noted: “This will mean a fundamental change in the passenger experience. The scanners are first-rate. They will massively speed up the flow of passengers and put significantly less pressure on security. But the existing rules on liquids and laptops have not changed.”
A planned 10-day strike by security staff at Heathrow over Easter led British Airways to announce the cancellation of 32 flights a day to and from Terminal 5 from March 31 to April 9 (Easter Sunday).
The walkout over pay by members of the Unite union led Heathrow to request BA cut 5% of its schedule, with most cancelled services on high-frequency short‑haul routes.
BA apologised to customers and offered refunds or rebooking, insisting: “The vast majority of customers will be able to travel within 24 hours of their original flight.” It noted Heathrow had asked all airlines to stop selling tickets from Heathrow on affected days.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We have contingency plans that will keep the airport open and operational.” However, Unite warned: “Strike action will cause huge disruption and delays at Heathrow.”
An airline source said passengers should be urged to “check in as normal three hours before a long‑haul flight”, saying: “We don’t want people turning up [more than three] hours in advance because it amplifies any problems.”
Fears of strikes by Border Force officers adding to difficulties at Easter were allayed as the PCS union identified Friday, April 28 at the start of the May Day holiday as the date of the next Border Force strike over pay.
More: Last-ditch talks agreed in bid to avert 10-day Heathrow strike