Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has called on the government of Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium, to take action to address the staffing shortage at the security services of Charleroi Airport, the second-largest airport in the country.
Ryanair’s Chief Operating Officer, Neal Mcmahon, claims that only about half of the 11 security lanes at Charleroi Airport are operational, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
“It is absurd that Charleroi Airport management has known since Christmas that they would not have enough staff to open all security lanes, but they have yet to take any action,” Mcmahon complained.
According to him, over the last two weeks, more than 2,000 passengers missed their flights and “suffered from excessive security lines lasting from one to two hours.”
A Ryanair representative emphasized that the staff shortage is particularly problematic ahead of Easter, when many people traditionally plan to travel. The low-cost airline urged the Wallonian government to urgently address the issue and proposed two solutions: either the airport should appoint a second security service provider to open all lanes, or it should deploy trained military personnel.
“It is already too late to hire more staff; we need a solution today. A second security service provider or the army are the only options,” Neal Mcmahon emphasized.
In a conversation with The Brussels Times, the Wallonia Minister for Airports, Cécile Neven, stated that she “has taken note” of Ryanair’s comments and that “a number of measures have been taken in recent weeks to address the identified shortcomings.”
Brussels Charleroi Airport is Belgium’s second-largest airport, handling more than 8 million passengers annually.
