Initiators struggling to quell the chaos at airports claim that security tests for new workers are being completed in record time, as passengers have criticized “disaster movie” scenes.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is trying to alleviate flight disruption this summer to prevent the chaos seen over the Easter and Jubilee holidays.
Lack of staff to handle luggage and carry out security checks such as X-rays is causing long queues and delays at UK airports.
The government has ordered the selection center to prioritize checks for airports so that new recruits can fill the gaps faster.
The Department of Transportation (DfT) said anti-terrorist checks for aviation workers are now processed in less than 10 days on average – half March time.
Accreditation checks are also expedited to be completed on average within five days, according to the department.
But in the short term, staff shortages appear to be hitting Heathrow Airport.
Passenger Adam Kent, 59, said baggage retrieval “looks like a scene from a disaster movie” after arriving at Terminal 3 from Orlando, Florida.
“(There was) lost luggage everywhere, stacked between luggage belts, everyone stepped on it and nobody did anything about it,” Mr Kent, from Worcestershire, told the PA news agency.
“To be cruelly honest, it seems like a serious health and safety issue.
The left and left luggage was left uninsured and could be easily stolen
“No one visible on the ground to explain the carnage or sort out the rubbish, it seems that a lot of luggage did not arrive with passengers and was just dumped.”
Mr Kent said there was “horrific customer service” at the airport, adding: “Staff (were) nowhere to be seen, everyone was pretty shocked.
“The left and left luggage was left unsecured and could easily be stolen… No duty of care shown to passengers’ belongings.”
Mr Shapps, who devised a 22-point plan to help curb the disruption, welcomed the latest statistics.
“People made great sacrifices during the pandemic and deserve their flights to run on time, without complications and without being canceled at the last minute,” he said.
“While this is a challenging time for the sector, it is not acceptable for the current disruption to continue as we end up at the summer peak.
“The public deserves to know now whether their flights will last over the summer or not, which is why I repeat my call to the industry to commit to delivering the flights they have scheduled, or to cancel them in advance so that people can can make arrangements ….
“Building on our 22-point plan to help the industry reduce disruption, we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that this summer is a great success for the UK public.”
But Labor accused the government of being “missing in action”.
Louise Haigh, secretary of shadow transport, said: “The part-time transport secretary did not hold a single meeting to tackle the chaos between Easter and the Jubilee weekend and is now desperately trying to catch up.
“These re-announced half measures will do little to eliminate the major delays in security checks and address the chronically low salary that is holding back the industry.”
However, the DfT said Mr. Shapps held an aviation roundtable on June 1 to discuss the disruption with airports, airlines and land handling companies.