Dublin airport is asking former airport security staff and those on career breaks to return to security screening during the busy Easter period.

In its latest update, DAA said it is taking several steps to address the long queues that have caused chaos at the airport in recent weeks.

The airport operator said the measures have already been successful with no passengers missing their flights due to the queues since the weekend the problem first emerged.

It said it is in the process of recruiting, training and getting security clearance for a “significant number of staff” to replace the nearly 1,000 who left the company during the pandemic.

The company also claimed the current increase in passenger number was “significantly higher than expected”.

It said it has hired 100 new staff so far this year and has invited 250 candidates for interview in the past week.

It is also asking former security screeners who have moved on to other positions in the company to return to security screening and asking workers who are on career breaks to consider coming back in the short-term.

Cork-based security staff have also been temporarily re-assigned to Dublin, while current Dublin staff are being encourages to take up overtime.

Passengers are being advised to arrive at the airport up to three and a half hours before flight departure to ensure they catch their plane and an advertising campaign is going out on national radio warning people that things may take longer than expected.

Security is being kept open 25/7 in Terminal 1 to reduce the build-up of queues in the morning and DAA is reminding passengers that food and drink outlets are open airside throughout the night.