WATCH: Flyer anguish as Guernsey struggles with queue control

Wednesday 05 December 2018

Rock hoppers have complained of extensive security queues at Guernsey Airport as they tried to return to Jersey this week.

Charter passengers, business visitors and inter-island tourists have all faced significant delays in clearing security as they are left to wait in queues snaking around the departures hall.

The issue has arisen because the airport’s duty free zone is being redeveloped to create an expanded security area.

The first phase of the building work has resulted in huge queues of passengers winding through the terminal at peak times with numerous complaints being made. 

Video: Guernsey Airport captured the chaos on camera, which it posted online as a warning to passengers.

Jersey passengers flying via Guernsey Airport have been urged alongside all other travellers to turn up early for flights to ensure that they make it through security in plenty of time as construction work continues in the duty free area.

Guernsey’s Ports General Manager, Colin Le Ray said there are two peaks during the day when the queues are at their worst - ahead of the earliest flights, and teatime services. 

"Most of the time it's manageable, but it is busier at those times," he said. Mr Le Ray also said last Friday saw the queues even busier than usual with an additional charter flight, alongside the usual flights. 

Pictured: At peak times, Guernsey airport is suffering from extended delays and long queues due to construction work ongoing in the terminal.

Mr Le Ray said work on phase one of the plans to upgrade the security and duty free areas at Guernsey Airport is going well and will be finished before Christmas as predicted when the scheme was launched.  

He said phase two is due to start in January but some changes are now being made to the plans to try and stop more queues forming. 

To try and manage the queues, Mr Le Ray is reminding passengers with additional needs - including mobility issues - that the 'lanyard' scheme, which notifies airport staff that you need assistance meaning that you won't have to queue, is in place.

Pictured: What the proposed redevelopment at Guernsey Airport will look like when the refurbishment is completed.

Mr Le Ray told Express that any passengers who have checked in online can go to security from 05:30 for the early flights, with queues currently usually building by around 06:10, when more people arrive to check in. He added that passengers must also remember to only take one piece of hand luggage through security.

He said the second peak time for airport traffic is later in the day, but it isn't as busy as it is for 'red eye' flights, with people tending to arrive earlier ahead of the later flights.