Biometric Checks Cause Long Queues At Spanish Airports
New biometric border controls being introduced across the Schengen area are creating long queues at several Spanish airports, with some British travellers reporting missed flights. The Entry/Exit System (EES) replaces traditional passport stamping by recording fingerprints, facial images and passport data when non-EU visitors enter the region for the first time. The system replaces passport stamps with digital registration, but the first phase of use has led to longer queues at some airports.
At Tenerife South Airport, travellers report that only a limited number of biometric kiosks have been available, with technical faults affecting fingerprint scanning and document checks. Some passengers say they waited several hours to pass through controls, while others missed departures after queues built up. Police have reportedly been called to manage crowds during busy periods when travellers became frustrated with waiting times.
Difficulties have also been reported at other Spanish airports, including Lanzarote, where passengers described waiting several hours after landing before completing EES registration. Officials acknowledged that computer failures and limited staffing contributed to slower processing. Planned strike action by ground staff across multiple Spanish airports in March and April may add pressure on airport operations, particularly during busy travel periods.
Airports mentioned in connection with delays include several major Spanish gateways as well as island destinations popular for holidays.
Airports where disruption has been reported
- Tenerife South
- Lanzarote
- Gran Canaria
- Palma de Mallorca
- Madrid-Barajas
- Barcelona-El Prat
- Málaga-Costa del Sol
- Alicante-Elche
Travellers planning trips to the Canary Islands or mainland Spain may wish to allow additional time at border control, especially when visiting a Schengen country for the first time after EES introduction. Arriving at the airport earlier than usual can help avoid problems if queues take longer than expected. The situation shows that new border checks can slow the process at first, especially while technical issues are being resolved and staff adapt to updated procedures.