Manchester-3

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Isn't the problem the scanners are ancient and so drive far too many into secondary search as they can't safely see dangerous articles from harmless ones? Or is that just the special Manchester way of doing security again?
THIS debacle is not just about lack of staff, security at MAN has been a huge pain point for experienced travellers for years. Is the old head of security still in place? If so, nought will change.

It's the people at the top that are the problem, not the front line who are set up to fail as they are not given either the tools (arguable IMHO) or the management support (missing) to succeed.

[Rutan16]

Skip right on the head of security IS the core of the problem . Can’t see wood for trees .
Massive risk issue with the pre check penning for a few Chanel 150mil bottles !
One idiot could do a magnitude of harm here and in a city where a tragedy has already happened in crowds
Head of Security at MAG Group needs to go Now

[roverman]

Originally Posted by 2Planks

It looks like the 'arms length' approach to the management of MAN by the majority shareholder has failed.
That majority shareholder is the 10 local councils who together own just short of 2 thirds of MAG.

True, but only MCC has voting rights, shared 50/50 with IFM. The other 9 GM councils get a dividend but have had no say in the running of the business since the purchase of Stansted.

[back to Boeing]

Manchester security have been absolutely the worst in the country for the 12 years I have had anything to do with them as both passenger and employee for airlines based there. Generally downright rude. The number of rejected bags an absolute farce and “operatives” making up rules on the hop. However the rots from the head.

Going through fast track at Manchester takes me the same time as going through Amsterdam normal queue with quite frankly a fraction of the passenger numbers. I’d hoped the new facilities at T2 would be better, and by the looks of things they are significantly better than T1, but starting from -10 it’s not an accolade to be proud of.

the airport can blame Easter holidays and Covid all it wants. But it is the management that is rotten. It has been for over a decade. It’s just taken the events of the last few weeks to expose their utter failings.

[HOVIS]

Bit unfair blaming all this on MAG. Handling agents are not owned or run by MAG. Neither are the refuellers, engineers or cleaners. They're all short staffed and they all cause knock on delays.

[SWBKCB]

In a statement which criticises Manchester Airport for acting too late on recruitment, insufficient communication to passengers and management of queues, Mayor Andy Burnham has revealed measures to ease the ongoing crisis at the hub, caused mainly by a staff shortage. He also warned that 'disruption' was expected to continue for 'two months'.

While Greater Manchester's councils are majority shareholders in Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the day-to-day operation is usually outside the remit of both the town halls and the Mayor's office. However, Mr Burnham said they would 'work to support them in any way they can' until they have resolved the issues caused by the pandemic.

The Mayor said this would include an increased police presence at the hub, while transport staff from the bus and tram network would be drafted in to help with 'queue management and communication'.

Amid long waits for Home Office security clearance for new recurits, the mayor said he would also write to the Minister for Security and Borders asking if airports including Manchester could be prioritised in the process. This could mean that the 220 staff currently waiting to start at the hub could be out on the floor sooner.

The plan also includes:

• Increased overtime and more temporary staff
• More staff to 'organise' passengers passing through the airport
• Better information for queuing passengers and 'steps' to look after the welfare of those waiting for a long time
• More real-time information on security queues to be published on the Manchester Airport website
• Some airlines to offer bag check-in the night before flights if they are booked on an early service.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ction-23616419

[Pain in the R's]

The bottom line is that people were made redundant due covid, found other jobs due to a labour shortage due Brexit and don’t want to go back to an airport job that doesn’t pay a wage rate that reflects the inconvenience of a 24/7 shift pattern.

[Asturias56]

"While Greater Manchester's councils are majority shareholders in Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the day-to-day operation is usually outside the remit of both the town halls and the Mayor's office"

So no direct "stakeholder" involvement - a nice cushy number where you set your own rules and PI's

[Mr A Tis]

Skip is spot on here

Isn't the problem the scanners are ancient and so drive far too many into secondary search

.

I have recently been through 3 overseas airport & looked at the security bag rejections. I would say something like 1% are tracked for secondary screening. Passing through Manchester T1 last week this was well over 50%. Either the MAN training is useless or as I suspect, the Scanners are like the travelators & escalators- Cheap, old and/or knackered.
I had thought the T2 new ones would be much better, but no still 50+% bag rejection rates.
More & more airports now don't even have to have liquids removed, or it may be just liquids not electrical- here it's almost everything.
It's about investment in equipment, not just staffing.
Under Cornish it's been short term cheapness for maximum profit, hence also the scaled back T2 experience. Wooden benches & seats (same as used at Leeds train station). No check-in area seating. A check in area toilet with one urinal etc etc. Cheap, cheap, cheap is the motto at this place. In arrivals landside, something like 10 washbasins in the Gents- but 2 hand dryers. Penny pinchers.
There are no plans to replace or repair the Skylink travelators, nor the bus station passenger information screens that have been broke for 3 years.

[eye2eye5]

https://www.theguardian.com/business...e_iOSApp_Other

[Manchester South]

"The plan also includes:

• More staff to 'organise' passengers passing through the airport
• Better information for queuing passengers and 'steps' to look after the welfare of those waiting for a long time"

Back in the day , pre-covid. if there were long queues at security there was often a staff member or two working up the line, calling out the next departures & bringing people to the front, as well as generally calming things down. Seemed to be pretty common early mornings in T3 especially. I've not seen that at Manchester in the last two or three years, and the reports of the recent chaos suggest it isn't happening now. If stuck in a long queue, it was reassuring to know that at worst you'd be called through at the last minute and still make your flight. Reduced the stress and pre-empted any unoffical queue-jumping and arguments. A simple short -term measure . Doesn't need trained staff to call out a list of flight numbers , don't need to pull trained people off scanners etc - even managers could get down on the shop floor and help out !

[ICEHOUSES]

Originally Posted by Manchester South

"The plan also includes:

• More staff to 'organise' passengers passing through the airport
• Better information for queuing passengers and 'steps' to look after the welfare of those waiting for a long time"

Back in the day , pre-covid. if there were long queues at security there was often a staff member or two working up the line, calling out the next departures & bringing people to the front, as well as generally calming things down. Seemed to be pretty common early mornings in T3 especially. I've not seen that at Manchester in the last two or three years, and the reports of the recent chaos suggest it isn't happening now. If stuck in a long queue, it was reassuring to know that at worst you'd be called through at the last minute and still make your flight. Reduced the stress and pre-empted any unoffical queue-jumping and arguments. A simple short -term measure . Doesn't need trained staff to call out a list of flight numbers , don't need to pull trained people off scanners etc - even managers could get down on the shop floor and help out !

Why the hell should people queue jump over other pax who arrived at the airport in good time, this used to happen in T3 many times before covid, Ryanair pax being rushed through in front of other waiting pax at the security scanner at their convenience, just because they didn’t leave enough time to get to the airport.

[Manchester South]

Originally Posted by ICEHOUSES

Why the hell should people queue jump over other pax who arrived at the airport in good time, this used to happen in T3 many times before covid, Ryanair pax being rushed through in front of other waiting pax at the security scanner at their convenience, just because they didn’t leave enough time to get to the airport.

You're right , latecomers perhaps don't deserve it. But it was an attempt to manage the problems & get the maximum nr of people onto their flights.

[lfc84]

If check in closes 1 hour prior to departure it is not unreasonable (in normal circumstances) to contemplate an arrival at security 1 hour prior to departure and expect to make it to the gate by the gate closure time

[Mr A Tis]

If you are flying with the likes of Loganair, Eastern or Aurigny check in does not even open until one hour before. Many others eg TAP it is two hours, so how do they fit into the queue.?

[ICEHOUSES]

The rot started when all the low cost carriers started operations from MAN with many based aircraft, many of these passengers take trolly bags through security with liquids in to save checked in baggage cost, which holds all the security lines up resulting in all these delays to passengers. Years ago before the likes of Ryanair and easyJet moved in this never happened, but this is unfortunately the way aviation is nowadays I accept.

[brian_dromey]

Yes things have changed. But other airports seem to manage this much better. We’re not seeing social media posts with queues at the likes of Palma, Malaga or Barcelona, for example.

[Rutan16]

Originally Posted by brian_dromey

Yes things have changed. But other airports seem to manage this much better. We’re not seeing social media posts with queues at the likes of Palma, Malaga or Barcelona, for example.

Not like for like to be honest .All three are within Schengen so the Majority of traffic is passport/customs free and frictionless on arrival. Another Brexit benefit puts UK passport holders on a par with Russian , Serbian and African travelers 👍

And significantly reduces queues by a magnitude

[Navpi]

Must confess I'm mildly surprised there is still a high degree of civic pride which has come to the fore, yes its all a bit 1970s but laudable nonetheless.

I fully expected MAG to blindside the shareholders if they felt they were in a position to get away with it.

Lots of icing on top at Manchester but zero substance underneath.

Its pleasing they are kicking backsides.

[Mr Mac]

Navpi
I hope you do not think new T2 is the “iceing on top of the cake”. If so baker should be sacked.

Cheers
Mr Mac - looking to eat cake on Mon T1