article_detail

Passengers arriving in Spain, particularly from the UK, have been facing lengthy delays at passport control following the rollout of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), with reports of waits stretching to three hours at some of the country’s busiest airports.

 

Now, airport operator AENA has stepped in with a series of practical measures aimed at easing congestion, while making it clear that Spain will not suspend the system altogether.

 

The digital EES, which came fully into force on Thursday April 10, replaces traditional passport stamping with biometric checks for non-EU travellers. First-time visitors must provide fingerprint scans and a facial image, a process that has slowed the flow of passengers during peak periods.

 

Airports including Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Alicante and Palma have said the system itself is working correctly, but admit that high passenger volumes, particularly over Easter, pushed border control capacity to its limits.

 

In response, frontline staff have now been given more flexibility to manage queues. Families and passengers with reduced mobility can be redirected to traditional passport control lanes if biometric waits exceed 25 minutes. Airports are also working to stagger flight arrivals where possible and adjust crowd flow during busy periods.

 

These changes are designed to ease pressure without halting the new system, meaning biometric registration will still be required for first-time travellers.

 

Earlier disruption had already raised concerns about delays for UK passengers heading to Spain.

 

The approach in Spain contrasts with that taken elsewhere in Europe. Greece, for example, has opted to temporarily suspend biometric checks for certain travellers, including British tourists, in a bid to reduce queues at key entry points. Spain, however, has chosen to maintain the system while improving how it is managed on the ground.

 

The travel industry has been quick to respond. ABTA, The Travel Association, has called for better planning and staffing levels as demand increases ahead of the summer season. Its chief executive, Mark Tanzer, said that while some disruption was expected with a project of this scale, more could be done to minimise waiting times.

 

He warned that authorities must “make full use of contingency measures” and ensure sufficient staff are in place, particularly during peak travel periods.

 

With passenger numbers expected to rise further in the coming months, industry leaders say the success of these adjustments will be key to maintaining confidence among travellers heading to Spain.

 

 

Image: Pew Nguyen/Pexels