Hundreds queue at Manchester airport at dawn

British holidaymakers catching early morning flights from Manchester Airport today were packed together in massive queues at check-in due to staffing shortages caused by Covid isolation – as millions of people brace for yet another Bank Holiday weekend of travel chaos.

Hundreds of travellers were pictured filling up Manchester’s hall as early as 3.10am as the hardhit aviation industry tries to overcome pressures caused by the ‘perfect storm’ of staff absences, mass layoffs during the pandemic, and people flying abroad for European sun for the first time in two years.

But millions of families who may have tried to avoid the travel hell over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend by going on a staycation this time are now being warned to prepare for chaos, as 17million motorists are set to hit the roads while £70million worth of rail engineering works as well as strikes threaten to shut down whole swathes of Britain’s network.

A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: ‘We apologise to passengers who have encountered longer queues than they may be used to this morning. We are in the process of recovering after the most damaging two years in our industry’s history, and whilst we have made strong progress on recruitment, unfortunately we remain some way short of where we need to be.

‘It is still the case that most passengers will pass through security in fewer than 30 minutes, but at peak times queues may rise to between 60 and 90 minutes. 

‘As such we are advising passengers to arrive three hours before their departure, and to double-check that their hand luggage is compliant with rules on liquids and electrical items. If they do this, we are confident we will get them on their way this Bank Holiday weekend.’

More than 3million drivers will take leisure trips today alone, followed by 3million tomorrow and more than 2million on Sunday, according to the RAC.

Meanwhile, track and signal upgrades mean 550 routes will be closed over the three-day weekend, with trains on the West Coast Mainline from the North West and West Midlands stopping at Milton Keynes Central rather than running into London Euston.  

Long queue of passengers at London’s St Pancras International station, April 29, 2022

UK travellers pictured packed together in massive queues at Manchester Airport this morning

Passengers at London’s Euston rail station as the May Bank holiday getaway begins, April 29, 2022

Traffic queues on the A102M Blackwall Tunnel approach in Greenwich, South East London, April 29, 2022

Long queue of passengers at London’s St Pancras International station, April 29, 2022

British holidaymakers queued as early as 3.10am at check-in at Manchester Airport

RAC traffic spokesperson Rod Dennis said: ‘Easter might only have been a couple of weeks ago, but it looks as though plenty of drivers are still looking to make the most of this May Day bank holiday. 

We expect routes to classic tourist hotspots – especially the coasts – to clog up on Friday afternoon and through Saturday morning, although according to our research Monday could turn out to be the busiest day of the long weekend.

‘Preparation is paramount though to avoid an inconvenient breakdown at the side of the road – it’s a fact that the majority of the jobs our patrols will attend this weekend will be avoidable if drivers spend just a little time checking their vehicles are ‘road-ready’.’

There will also be no Southern trains into London Victoria on Sunday and Monday due to signalling upgrades, causing problems for…