Ryanair calls on Walloon government to deploy extra security staff at Charleroi airport
Ryanair has called on the Walloon government to urgently address the shortage of security staff at Charleroi Airport, warning that immediate action is needed ahead of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. The Irish budget airline is concerned that understaffing could prevent passengers from boarding their flights on time.
Passengers have faced delays of up to 90 minutes at security checkpoints in recent weeks, Ryanair said. In the first two weeks of April alone, 2,000 passengers reportedly missed their flights due to the disruption. To alleviate the situation, the airline has proposed the deployment of additional security staff or even military personnel.
Fewer security lanes
Currently, only about half of the airport's 11 security lanes are operational due to staff shortages - a situation Ryanair has described as "unacceptable". Similar problems were experienced over the Christmas period.
"We have been asking the airport to resolve this issue for several months but they have been unsuccessful," Neal McMahon, chief operations officer, told VRT NWS. "We are now appealing directly to the Walloon government to ensure that families can travel smoothly over the Easter weekend."
The airline has put forward two proposals. The first is to hire a second security company to ensure that all lanes are staffed, a measure that has already been successfully implemented. The second, more drastic proposal is to deploy trained military personnel, as has been done at other European airports in similar circumstances.
The Walloon government is reportedly reviewing the situation, but Ryanair insists that urgent action is needed ahead of the Easter weekend.
© BELGA PHOTO MATHIEU COLINET
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