Charleroi Airport (BSCA) has introduced several measures to address the queues observed at security checks in recent weeks, the company announced on Friday.
The airport has been dealing with long security queues due to the influx of passengers brought on by a combination of factors. These include the start of the summer season, school holidays in Flanders and neighbouring countries, increased security checks following a European inspection, and occasional staff absences, the BSCA explained.
To improve efficiency and security, the airport has decided to reorganise the flow of passengers by dividing queues based on passenger status - with or without checked baggage - and airline. The steward team has been strengthened to better guide and inform travellers, and security provider G4S has recruited 40 additional agents.
As announced on Thursday evening by Wallonia's Minister in charge of Airports, Cécile Neven, the airport has also decided to launch a public tender to appoint a second service provider “to support G4S and reassure passengers about the airport’s capacity to accommodate them properly.”
Travellers are still recommended to arrive between 2.5 and 3 hours before their flights to avoid stress related to security checks.
According to Ryanair, nearly 2,000 of its passengers missed their flights in early April due to queuing times of up to 90 minutes.
The Irish airline had called for “urgent” measures, including the hiring of a second service provider or the use of military personnel.
