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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Marita Moloney

Dublin Airport chaos as passengers stuck in 'worst queues seen yet'

Passengers are facing massive queues at Dublin Airport as thousands jet off this weekend.

People are reporting the "worst queues they've seen yet" while getting through security in Terminal 1 with some even missing flights.

Some of the worst times are Friday evenings and early mornings and this morning was no different, the Irish Mirror reports.

Read more: Dublin Airport cheapest flights to Europe with Aer Lingus and Ryanair this week

From around 5.30am, passengers said that the airport was "mobbed" and warned others to give themselves plenty of time to get through security.

Stylist and TV presenter Sonya Lennon was one of those heading away on an early morning trip.

She said on Twitter: "Warning! #dublinairport is MOBBED this morning, you might need that three hours."

Other people reported "ridiculous" queues and long wait times.

One person said: "Never seen @DublinAirport departures gate so busy.. But staff doing a grand job given numbers involved etc."

A second said: "The lines in Dublin airport are crazy."

A third wrote: "If you’re flying out of #DublinAirport today come early, the queues at security are ridiculous. Been here an hour and counting."

A fourth added: "They know weeks if not months in advance the flight schedule. Simply not good enough yet again from @DublinAirport. Don't allow the flights if you can't handle them.

Another said: "Queues and queues at @DublinAirport this morning to get through security. Certainly the worst queues I’ve ever seen here!"

While someone else wrote: "Seriously though @DublinAirport what on earth, with 2 hrs 20 mins to spare you shouldn't be running for your gate and making it with 4 mins til boarding."

The long wait times to get through security have been attributed to low staffing levels at Dublin Airport and delays in getting new employees vetted for their roles.

Kevin Cullinane, daa Group Head of Communications, said around 100 new staff have been recruited since the start of the year.

However, there have been delays in some of these people starting their roles because of a requirement for enhanced background checks for aviation workers that came into effect on 1 January, as RTE reports.

Mr Cullinane told the news outlet that the "logjam" that was causing delays has now been removed and daa hopes that more new staff can begin working in the coming weeks.

In a statement to the Irish Mirror earlier this month, a spokesperson for daa said passengers should arrive at Dublin Airport a minimum of two hours before their short-haul flight departs.

They said: "With passenger numbers steadily increasing at Dublin Airport, particularly at weekends...we continue to advise passengers travelling on short-haul flights to arrive at the airport a minimum of two hours before the boarding of their flight and three hours before the boarding of a long-haul flight and to allow at least an extra 30 minutes if using a long term car park.

"Intending passengers should allow this time to check-in and go through security screening."

Read more: Liquid rule for flights could be scrapped, says expert

Read more: Dublin Airport passengers slam 'outrageous queues' for St Patrick's weekend

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