Major airport responds as Ryanair sends warning to passengers this weekend

Passengers from a major UK airport have been alerted of staff shortages and told to get through security “as soon as possible” while travelling this weekend.

But  London Stansted Airport says there must have been a mix up as there are no staff missing and security is “performing very well.”  

Ryanair has written to passengers flying from London Stansted Airport this weekend advising them to arrive at the airport an extra hour before departure due to a lack of security staff. 

An email seen by Express.co.uk sent to passengers this weekend reads: “Due to London Stansted Airport security staff shortages, we advise all passengers departing London Stansted Airport to arrive at the airport three hours prior to departure and proceed through security control as soon as possible.”

It continues: “The Ryanair check-in counters will be open from three hours prior to your departure time.

“We encourage all passengers to download the Ryanair App ahead of your trip and use our Travel Assistant feature for all the latest information on your flight.”

The airport’s usual recommendations are for flyers is to arrive two hours before their flight – however it told Express.co.uk that there are currently no issues at the airport in Essex.

A spokesperson said: “I can confirm that there are in fact no staff shortages, there haven’t been all summer, and security is, and has been, performing very well and reliably all summer too.

“In fact, during August – the busiest month ever at the airport – 99 percent of all passengers safely passed through security in 15 minutes or less, with the average queue time during the peak departure periods in less than 2 minutes 30 seconds. This level of performance has been consistently provided across what has been our busiest summer season ever.

“Also, no other airline operating at London Stansted is making this statement.”

Express.co.uk has approached Ryanair for comment. 

London Stansted Airport achieved a milestone in August, setting a new record as it welcomed over three million passengers in a single month for the first time in its history, reports travelandtourworld.com. 

The airport handled a total of 3.06 million passengers, marking a 4.9 percent increase compared to the same month last year. It surpassed its previous record of 2.97 million passengers set in August 2018.