Manchester Airport managing director Karen Smart steps down

Ms Smart, who has been in the role for two years, is yet to issue a statement. 

The news comes after the airport took to Twitter on Monday to apologise to customers for the disruption as queues for check-in and security were hours long.

The statement read: "As we continue to recover from the pandemic and passenger numbers grow, security queues may be longer than usual at times.

"If you're due to travel in the next few weeks, please arrive at the earliest time your airline allows. We apologise to our customers for the disruption."

As we continue to recover from the pandemic and passenger numbers grow, security queues may be longer than usual at times. If you're due to travel in the next few weeks, please arrive at the earliest time your airline allows.

We apologise to our customers for the disruption. pic.twitter.com/qyCoxJa7ak

— Manchester Airport (@manairport) April 4, 2022

One Twitter user shared a video of long queues, worried it was "an accident waiting to happen".

.@manairport #ManchesterAirport T1 this is a health and safety nightmare! Absolutely no one managing the crowds of people, queues all converging on top of one another. Someone should be directing the flow. Accident waiting to happen! pic.twitter.com/pmM8T2IG1x

— Shauna Hanna (@TH_ShaunaH) April 4, 2022

Another showed only two of the 10 lanes in security open, leading to hundreds of people queuing. 

Estimate that there are well over 1000 people in the security queue at T2 #ManchesterAirport. Only two of ten lanes open. pic.twitter.com/rsdAkCNVjX

— Rob Brown (@robbrown) April 4, 2022

Many people have complained about missing their flights despite arriving at the airport more than three hours early. 

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, was in talks with airport bosses on April 5 to discuss the “concerning” situation with union officials also set to discuss pay and conditions.

He is expected to give an update on the talks on Wednesday.