More staff and additional costs may be the only solution to cut down on passenger delays at the airport, a government minister has admitted.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer was quizzed about the growing problem of long queues and delays through security in Isle of Man Airport when Tynwald sat last week.

Passengers have complained about waiting times, approaching an hour, just to get through security, which has been put down to some flights now having a much higher capacity than they used to.

Mr Harmer said the peak load times were early morning and the evening.

’It is something that we are looking into, but it will mean additional staff and additional cost,’ he said.

’One further piece of work is the reconsideration of the security manning levels at peak times in the security processing area.’

He stressed that a second set of security equipment that passengers have suggested could be used at peak times was there as a back-up.

’If there were no back-up equipment then every item of cabin baggage would have to be searched by hand if the scanning equipment failed.’

He added: ’Peak times at security are about 30 to 40 minutes in the morning and again in the evenings.

’We could use the second security scanning equipment at these times, but our contract operator would be unlikely to persuade additional staff to come in to work for the two brief times each day.

’Even if the contractor offered three-hour shifts, it is expected to have to make an offer of premium pay rate to secure adequate staffing.

’The contractor has suggested the annual cost of operating the second line for two daily peaks would be approximately £150,000.’

David Ashford (Douglas North) said long days were becoming the norm and warned this had an impact on the island’s reputation.

He asked Mr Harmer to take a look at flight schedules.

The minister replied: ’One of the key differences to perhaps 10 years ago - when we had similar passenger numbers and many more smaller aircraft - and now is there has been a change to larger aircraft and particularly some of the bigger providers.

’We are near record levels, but with much fewer aircraft. That is why we get those concentrations.’

He warned: ’Scheduling is something that can be looked at, but we need to remember that they also configure with other airports and with their hub times. So, obviously, they need to consider that.’