Ronaldsway Airport may undergo changes to its security check area due to passenger complaints.

The government is considering plans to cut down queues near the security check zone by changing the layout of the area, as well as installing additional rollers near the X-ray machines, an automatic tray return and a card reader device.

The Examiner spoke to members of the public to get their views of the airport queues and possible changes.

’It’s nothing compared to other airports,’ said Gordon Harris from Douglas. ’I do a lot of flying and it’s not a problem here, but they do use only one machine when it does get busy.

’However, using the other machine will mean more staff. Can the island afford that?’

The 63-year-old added: ’People just don’t give themselves enough time. They should get there first thing in the morning.’

Alison Kneale, 47, from Laxey, said: ’I always get there earlier by about an hour and I’ve not had any big issues. Sometimes the queue gets passed the escalators, but people should get there earlier and be responsible.

’Someone told me that three flights left at the same time when they were last at Ronaldsway. The airport probably shouldn’t do that.’

Her daughter, Lily, 20, currently studies languages with tourism management in Edinburgh and goes through the airport’s security around four times a year.

’I just stroll in,’ she said. ’I’ve never been late and panicky.’

Lily believes the possible changes brought in by the government would ’be helpful when it’s busy’, but thinks the money could be invested elsewhere.

’The departure lounge could be better. There’s nothing to do and it’s quite gross in there. They could also do with making the cafe nicer for people,’ she suggested.

Andrew Foster, 45, from Douglas, shared his recent experience at the airport.

He said: ’I had to queue the other day and it went all the way back to the top of the escalators. I was flying to London on a weekday and one security machine wasn’t being used.

’If they’ve got two machines, why aren’t they using them?’

Douglas resident Lesley Lowley said: ’The queues have never affected me. I make sure I get there early in the morning and lots of people won’t go in that early because they’ve got kids.

’You’ve also got to consider schools. The waiting times will be different when they’re on,’ she said.

Clair Saunders, 33, from Douglas, flies to London Gatwick once every three weeks and thinks changes to the security area will be useful.

She said: ’The queues never used to be this bad and it’s just happened in last few months. The Saturday flight queues are very busy because there are too many flights going at once’

’If you’re the last person in the queue you get through later, which is difficult for people who have got kids with them. I go through the security check with my son, who wants to feed as soon as we get on the plane. With the queues, he has to wait longer.’

Her friend, Val Wood from Port Erin, said: ’It’s usually congested at the door. I think it’ll be good to change the layout.’