The island’s passenger watchdog says it is ’extremely concerned’ at unacceptable delays through security at the airport.

Airport director Ann Reynolds said improvements being considered include an enlarged central search area plus new equipment and staffing a second security line at peak times.

’We hope to have everything in place for the summer season when the clocks change,’ she said.

TravelWatch has expressed surprised at why it had taken so long to come up with a solution.

’The reputation of the Isle of Man is seriously at stake and the problem needs an early and urgent solution,’ a spokesman for the group said.

Travellers have been faced with long queues getting through security during peak times since the end of September.

The problem has been put down to some routes using much bigger aircraft with a number of flights scheduled to depart within a short time - although there have been no recent changes to schedules or security measures.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer said a review is under way but has warned that solutions will come with a price tag.

The passenger watchdog said: ’TravelWatch is extremely concerned at the unacceptable level of delays through security at the airport during those occasions when several flights are departing within a tight timeframe.

’TravelWatch welcomes the review being undertaken, and we note the options of enlarging the search area, automatic tray returns and boarding card reader machines.

’But we strongly believe that these options will not solve the key problem which is the fact that only one search machine is in use.’

Airport bosses said the second set of x-ray equipment in security is there purely as a back-up.

In the House of Keys earlier this month, Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer said his department was in talks with the contractor at the airport about opening a second line within the search area, staffing it for a few hours at peak times only.

The cost of this is likely to be £142,000 a year and Mr Harmer said the DoI is working with Treasury to identify the funds.

TravelWatch said the costs of increasing security staff should be met by the airlines.

Isle of Man Airport is urging passengers to turn up earlier to ensure they have plenty of time to get through security.

But there are reports of passengers missing flights and of others arriving two hours early for their flight and still struggling to get through security. Ms Reynolds said plans for a larger central search area are currently being costed. New equipment being considered include an automatic tray return and boarding card readers.