How long is birmingham airport security time?

The average security wait time at Birmingham Airport is 10 to 15 minutes during off-peak hours.

What is the busiest time at BHX security?

The busiest security wait times at Birmingham Airport are from 5:00 am to 8:00 am. During this period, the wait time can extend from 20 to 40 minutes.

Does Birmingham Airport have fast-track security?

Yes, the Express lanes are available at zone B.

How much is the BHX Express Lane?

The online Express ticket price costs £6. However, the same day ticket price at the airport usually costs £7.50 per person.

How long does passport control take at BHX?

Passport control usually takes 7 minutes. Purchase Premium Arrivals Fast Track for £20 per person to reduce immigration wait times.

Has BHX improved security operations recently?

Yes, the airport has added new lanes and upgraded screening technology with next-generation CT scanners to improve passenger flow.

Birmingham Airport (BHX) Security Wait Times & Express Lanes

Q: What time does security open at Birmingham Airport?

The security checkpoints typically open around 4:00 am daily and operate until the last departing flight, although exact times can vary depending on flight schedules.

As of May 2026, Birmingham airport security time usually takes around 10 to 15 minutes during non-peak hours. During midweek, queues are often cleared in less than 5 minutes. However, during the busiest hours, i.e, between 05:00 am and 08:00 am, the wait time can increase to 20 to 40 minutes, especially during summer travel periods and school holiday weekends. Recently, the airport introduced next-generation CT scanners and express lanes to reduce the wait times.

Birmingham airport security wait

Birmingham Airport Current Security Time

The Security check lanes are located in the main security area on the first floor of the terminal. It can be reached through two entrances near Check-in Zone A and Check-in Zone B. Typical security wait times at both zones are around 5 to 15 minutes during non-peak periods. However, on weekends and during school holidays, standard security queues can increase to around 20 to 40 minutes.

Estimated Average Birmingham Airport Security Times

Average BHX security wait times are usually less than 15 minutes. But during the busy hours, it may increase up to 40 minutes.

Hours	Wait Times
05:00 am to 08:00 am	15 to 40 minutes
8:00 am to 9:00 am	10 to 20 minutes
9:00 am to 11:00 am	Less than 5 minutes
11:00 am to 1:00 pm	5 to 10 minutes
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm	Less than 5 minutes
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm	8 to 20 minutes
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm	5 to 12 minutes
9:00 pm to Late Night	Less than 5 minutes

What Time Does Security Open at Birmingham Airport?

The main security screening area operates from 4:00 am until 11:00 pm or until the final departing flight of the day.

Full staffing starts before early morning departures.
Late-night flights often experience shorter queues.

Birmingham Airport Express Lanes

Express Lane service are equalent to TSA PreCheck at USA airports, and it helps to skip the security lanes and helps to reduce Birmingham airport security time.

The Express Lanes are available only in Zone B.
The online Express ticket price costs £6.
Tickets bought at the airport on the day usually cost £7.50 per person.
Children under 4 usually enter for free with paying adults.

Birmingham Airport Passport Control Wait Times

The average immigration and customs times are around 7 to 15 minutes, although queues can be longer during busy arrival periods.

Average Wait Times	7 to 15 minutes
During Off-Peak Hours	3 to 4 minutes
During Peak Hours	15 to 25 minutes

Premium Arrivals Fast Track is also available to help reduce overall Birmingham Airport security wait time up to 5 to 15 minutes at the UK Border Force area.

The service costs £20 per person.
The booking should be done 24 hours before arriving at the airport.
Children can use this service if they are added to the booking separately.
Every passenger, including children, must have an individual booking reference and barcode.
The fast track operates every day from 06:00 to 24:00.
Each voucher can only be used one time.

What Affects BHX Wait Times

The Birmingham Airport security time can increase or decrease due to the following factors:

Early morning or evening departures
Summer holidays, Easter, Christmas, and bank holidays
Fog, storms, or other weather conditions
Removing prohibited items at the checkpoint increases processing times
Staffing levels

How to Track Birmingham Airport Wait Times?

Tracking Birmingham Airport security wait times is easy with:

Birmingham Airport official website
Airline official site or mobile app
Flight tracking apps
Airport digital screens

Tips to Reduce Birmingham Airport Security Wait Times

Follow the tips below to reduce the time at Birmingham Airport through security:

Avoid booking early morning or weekend flights, as these times have long security check queues.
Complete check-in online to directly move to the security check area.
Pre-book Express lanes to save time during peak travel periods.
Keep passports, boarding passes, and electronics easily accessible.
Pre-book the parking space close to the terminal to reduce the walking time before security.
Using Birmingham Airport parking promo codes can often secure cheaper parking near the terminal, making arrival quicker during busy hours.
Try to travel without checked bags to move through the airport much faster.
A rental car hire at Birmingham Airport reduces extra walking time and dependence on public transport, making it quick to access the security checkpoints during peak hours.
Keep tracking the Birmingham Airport live security time.

Final Words!

The Birmingham airport security time range between 10 and 15 minutes during regular hours, while early morning peaks may still reach 20 to 40 minutes during busy travel seasons. Arriving early, using online check-in, booking Express Lane access, and preparing properly before entering security can help to avoid delays.