The airports of Tenerife South and Lanzarote are experiencing long queues at passport control, generating complaints from British travelers who report waits of between one and two hours, particularly on days of high passenger traffic. This situation is a concern during the peak season, when the Canary Islands receive a large number of tourists from the United Kingdom.
Tenerife South airport has been highlighted in British compilations regarding border waits, being included by the Daily Mail among European airports with the longest queues this summer. Consumer organization Which? also ranked it first on a list of delays at exit controls. Meanwhile, Lanzarote is listed among airports flagged by Ryanair, alongside other European tourist destinations.
A significant portion of these incidents is attributed to the new European Union's Entry and Exit System (EES). This mechanism digitizes the recording of entries and exits, facial images, and fingerprints, replacing the manual passport stamping for non-EU citizens. Although its aim is to streamline controls, its implementation has caused delays at several European airports, requiring British citizens to complete these biometric procedures at the external borders of the Schengen area.
Ryanair had previously warned of waits of one to two hours at Spanish airports such as Tenerife South, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura. The airline attributes these delays to staff shortages, an insufficient number of control points, and issues with the new EES system. The incidents affect both entry into and exit from the Schengen area, potentially complicating arrival at the destination or access to the boarding gate.
In light of this situation, the airline advises its passengers to arrive at the airport earlier to anticipate possible delays at passport control. This advice is particularly relevant for the Canary Islands, a key British tourism market, where prolonged waits can increase the risk of missing connections or flights during peak travel days.
