Easter, or spring break, is coming fast. With that comes travel, and people love to travel no matter the occasion. Travel sadly comes with disruption especially as a wealth of families reunite during the break. Passengers in the UK are no strangers to this as, in 2022, there were several strikes, luggage delays, and even melted runways to name but a few issues.

2023 seems to be the year for change, however, as airports across the country issue warnings to passengers as they embrace more modern and hi-tech procedures with liquids restrictions being scrapped from 2024.

Several UK airports including Birmingham and Heathrow have mentioned to passengers that they will need to adapt their travel plans to ensure that they will have a swift departure from the airport and also to minimize queueing through security.

In a social media statement, Birmingham Airport reminded passengers about the up-and-coming departures upgrade which is scheduled for completion in 2024. This means that parts of the current terminal are being renovated to ensure the airport looks clean and modern by the end of the upgrade period. Passengers can expect to move differently around the terminal building as parts of it are currently closed. 

Once through security, some shops and dining areas may be removed to assist with this upgrade. With this in mind, the airport suggests that passengers arrive no less than three hours before their flight instead of the regular two with assistance passengers now being asked to check in some four hours prior to their departure time. This allows passengers to move through the airport in smaller waves and in a more staggered format so that fewer crowds form at normally busy areas such as check-in and security. For airlines that offer it, twilight check-in (check-in and bag-drop conducted the evening before a flight) is unaffected and still continues to operate as normal.

Heathrow is not having major work done but it has advised passengers to be more aware of the time of their flight to prevent busy periods. Heathrow is the UK's largest and busiest airport so there is never a day when you won't see a crowd. Because of this, in preparation for the Easter Break they have suggested that passengers arrive earlier than normal for their flight and check with their airline should possible disruptions arise. This is so passengers do not miss their flights or come to the airport unprepared.

At the bare minimum, passengers should be arriving at least two hours and thirty minutes prior to their flight so that they have enough time to beat the queues. At Heathrow however, passengers requiring assistance are asked to arrive at the same time as their fellow passengers but leave enough time to check in with assistance before proceeding airside.

UK passengers have grown to accept a level of varying disruption over several years. 2023 seems to be changing from the days where passengers would fly to far-flung destinations, but their luggage wouldn't, or where heatwaves result in melting runways making it harder to fly, to days where everything is going smoothly, as the airports say. With a little preparation, the journey undertaken can be done so smoothly and without a hitch.

This, for the time being, seems to indicate an end to the regular disruption caused at UK airports for many years, but some journeys may still experience hurdles indicating a continual need to stay ahead and well-prepared.

From the entire team at AeroXplorer, we wish you a safe and fruitful Easter weekend, if you are celebrating!