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British holidaymakers flying to the Balearic Islands will soon pass through dedicated non-Schengen border control zones as part of a major airport overhaul designed to ease passport chaos under the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES).

 

Spanish airport operator Aena has confirmed that airports in Palma, Ibiza and Menorca will adapt their security and border control areas to create a single access point to non-Schengen boarding zones, which will be used exclusively by UK and other non-EU passengers.

 

The move comes after concerns about long queues as the EES system is rolled out, requiring more space and upgraded technology for passport checks. Airports will expand and redesign control areas to improve passenger flow, with around 29% more space allocated to ensure smoother processing and better service quality.

 

The changes form part of Aena’s proposed 2027-2031 investment plan under its Airport Regulation Document (DORA III).

 

At Palma Airport, officially called Son Sant Joan, €621.6 million has been earmarked, a 46% increase on the previous five-year period. While the terminal refurbishment is already under way under the current plan, the next phase will focus on runway and taxiway resurfacing, apron upgrades, boarding bridge renovations, car park improvements and new photovoltaic panels on parking roofs.

 

Ibiza Airport is set to receive €229.7 million, more than triple the previous allocation, while Menorca will see €170.7 million invested, a 336% increase. Much of this funding here will go towards adapting security checkpoints to accommodate larger, next-generation scanning equipment and the redesigned border areas.

 

In order to afford all of these upgrades in the Balearics and in the rest of Aena’s airports such as Alicante, the operator has proposed an average annual passenger fee increase of 35 cents at Palma, though this could fall to 25 cents if airline incentives apply.

 

This amount might appear pretty modest on paper, but several of the budget airlines, including Ryanair, have already warned that ticket prices could be hiked up to cover the difference.

 

Image: Palma Airport Info