HOLIDAYMAKERS jetting off for summer trips had to queue for over an hour at Bournemouth Airport while trying to get through security.

Queues for security at Bournemouth Airport were said to have been disruptively long as travellers tried to get away, with some nearly missing their flights. 

Although many arrived hours before their flight, some eventually had to be rushed through in order to make their planes, with reports that only two of the three security bays were open despite an influx of people. 

Susannah Wright from Poole said: "I've been travelling from Bournemouth Airport for years and I've never had an experience like that. 

"I think there were about five or six flights scheduled before 9am and there were only two security lines open. The queue went back to the entrance near the cafe.

"Some said they were told they weren't allowed to queue and had to go wait and have a coffee."

Susannah had a close call after being stuck in a queue while final calls for her flight to Venice were made. 

Her husband had made it through security and was able to inform the staff of her delay, meaning she was able to make the flight.

She said: "My husband had gone through security and was waiting for me. A Ryanair member of staff was calling out 'anyone for the Venice flight?'.

"He went to the gate and told them I was delayed but it could have been a close call between making a holiday or expensive staycation."

Bournemouth Airport will welcome more flights in 2025 as Jet2 expands its portfolio. 

Susannah expressed concern that this might exacerbate the airport's queuing problems. 

She said: "If this is a one-off, and I hope it is, then okay, but if this is as regular occurrence as I'm hearing then the airport needs to get their act together.

"In the time we were in the queue, we could have driven to Southampton Airport."

A spokesperson for Bournemouth Airport said:  “Unfortunately on Saturday a temporary equipment failure which coincided with a busy time in the terminal did result in some delays through security.

"The issue has been resolved and we would like to apologise for any inconvenience.”