The situation regarding wait times at Lisbon Airport has worsened in recent days, prompting multiple warnings and the implementation of emergency measures by the government to address the issue. One such initiative is the formation of a ‘task force’ aimed at coordinating an effective response.
This team includes representatives from various ministerial departments and entities, featuring the Ministries of Internal Administration, Presidency, and Infrastructure, as well as organizations such as ANA, the Internal Security System, the PSP, and the National Civil Aviation Authority.
“The entities directly involved in the airport border control process are working together to mitigate the constraints that have been observed, particularly at the airports of Lisbon and Faro,” stated the Ministry of Internal Administration. The ministry added: “A permanent team has indeed been created to manage flows, and measures are being adopted to enhance capacity and resources, as well as operational and systems management, over the short, medium, and long term.”
“Terrifying Queues”
Late last week, Ryanair appealed to Infrastructure Minister Pinto Luz to ensure the border control at Lisbon Airport is “adequately staffed” to prevent “terrifying queues,” as experienced during the summer.
The airline urged Minister Pinto Luz to “ensure the border control at Lisbon Airport is properly staffed, so that families with young children are not forced to face ‘terrifying’ Halloween-like queues, as happened this summer,” as mentioned in their statement.
In the same note, Ryanair emphasized that Lisbon was the country’s worst airport in terms of delays this summer, due to a lack of staff, resulting in queues of up to two and a half hours.
Ryanair’s Director of Communications, Jade Kirwan, criticized the wait times as “completely unacceptable,” citing traveler inconvenience and damage to the country’s reputation.
Tourism Concerns: CTP “Very Worried”
The Portuguese Tourism Confederation (CTP) also expressed being “very worried” about the delays and lengthy queues at Lisbon Airport and is seeking explanations from the Minister of Internal Administration.
The CTP stated, in a communiqué, that it is in continuous contact with the government, with a meeting already scheduled with the Minister of Internal Administration to “demand clarifications regarding what is happening at Lisbon Airport, particularly due to the failures of the new European automated border control system.”
The confederation, representing the tourism sector, underscored that these “constant” issues at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon, recurring since May, “endanger the image of national tourism and the country in general.”
CTP voiced its deepening concern over recent days, given the issues at the airports in Lisbon and Faro, involving long queues and wait times.
Lisbon Airport “Collapse”?
The Portuguese Hotel Association (AHP) warned the government of the potential “collapse” of Lisbon Airport due to the impact of the new European Entry/Exit System (EES).
In a letter to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Economy, Territorial Cohesion, Infrastructure and Housing, and Internal Administration, titled “Portugal Cannot Be Hostage to Its Border,” the AHP leadership voiced “deep concern over the situation at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon (and, to a lesser extent, in Faro) since the EES came into effect.”
In statements to Lusa, AHP President Bernardo Trindade lamented the state of the country’s main airport infrastructure.
“Today’s situation at Lisbon Airport is far from satisfactory, where the Portuguese State, not just this or the previous government’s State, overall, has consistently failed to ensure timely border controls, creating endless queues, security failures, failures in maintaining its conditions as per concession agreements, and most importantly, failing to uphold Portugal’s image,” he indicated.
