Gatwick has recruited 400 new security staff ahead of the busy summer season, with more still to join, to help passengers pass through the airport more quickly.
And with schools in England and Wales breaking up for the summer this week, the UK’s second largest airport is reminding holidaymakers about how to prepare for security checks and what to carry in hand luggage.
It said the hand luggage items most often rejected in security scanners are toothpaste, Vaseline, cigarette lighters, inhalers and hand sanitiser.
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About 10,000 items of hand luggage are rejected by the scanners each day so the bags need to be searched – adding an average of five minutes to the time taken to pass through security.
At peak times this can contribute to delays, said the airport.
Gatwick is urging passengers to prepare ahead of time by placing all liquids, creams, gels, balms and pastes up to a maximum of 100ml – with the exception of medication accompanied by a doctor’s note or prescription – in one resealable, transparent bag, separate to their hand luggage, as they travel through security.
The airport is promoting five travel tips on its social media channels for passengers ahead of busy summer period.
These include getting ready for airport security, keeping travel essentials handy, staying friendly to airport staff, and arriving at least two hours before the flight.
Adrian Witherow, chief operating officer at Gatwick, said: “With passenger numbers rapidly returning to 2019 levels, we expect to be busy, particularly at peak times such as weekends and the forthcoming school summer holidays.
“We are doing everything possible to make the airport process as smooth as possible, including recruiting and training hundreds of new security staff, many of whom have already started or will be in coming weeks.
“It’s also important however that we do what we can to help passengers prepare for security before reaching the trays.
“We understand many already do this, but by publishing the list of top items that are currently being forgotten, we hope to get even more people through airport security quickly.”
More: Airlines and airports hope to minimise disruption this weekend
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