Security checks for airport bag handlers and maintenance crews in the UK are being fast-tracked in a bid to tackle travel chaos

• The UK government is fast-tracking security checks for aviation workers.
• The measures aim to bring new workers into the industry as quickly as possible, officials told Insider.

The UK government is fast-tracking security checks for aviation workers to help ease travel congestion.

Counter Terrorist Checks (CTC) for new employees are being completed in less than 10 days on average, compared with an average of 20 days in March 2022, according to a statement released by the UK government's Department for Transport (DfT).

In addition, 97% of Accreditation Checks are being completed in around five days on average, per the statement.

The new measures affect employees such as bag handlers, X-ray screeners, and maintenance crews and come amid ongoing travel chaos at major airports across the UK.

London Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports, asked airlines to cancel flights on Thursday after the airport said it was expecting more passengers than it could hold, Insider reported.

British Airways has also been experiencing baggage issues at Heathrow. Some passengers are waiting days to be reunited with their luggage.

The DfT told Insider it had introduced measures that were designed to ease some of the problems and recruit more workers into the sector.

The government said it is also allowing employers to begin training new employees on certain modules while their background checks are ongoing.

The UK's transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said in the DfT statement shared with Insider: "While this is a challenging time for the sector, it is not acceptable for the current disruption to continue as we head into the summer peak. The public deserves to know now whether or not their flight will run over the summer."