Computer glitches to Lisbon airport’s electronic digital border controls failed again this week as Portugal gears up to receive millions of holiday-makers for the summer season.
Portugal’s authorities at the airports management company ANA admitted to “constraints” as the airport suffered long queues and staff had to process passengers manually on Tuesday.
Low-cost airline Ryanair took to social media this week to criticise the long queues at the airport and renewed its call for Portugal’s government to suspend the e-Gate system until after the summer season or until the problem is sorted out.
The airline said that people were stuck in the queues for up to two-and-a-half hours waiting to get through passport control.
“The Portuguese government should suspend the new European Entry and Exit System (EES) until the end of the summer peak season, if not passengers will face excessive queues at border controls”, says one Ryanair post.
“People need to understand that this distinct situation today (Tuesday) is one that does not directly affect the entry/ exit border control system, requiring the collection of biometric data,” countered Armando Ferreira, president of the national syndicate of police, whose PSP immigration agents work at the airport in a border control capacity.
Reporters have already been chastised by the immigration authorities for leaping on a story that puts the country in a bad light.
On Monday, Portugal’s Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro said that the government would not rule out suspending the EES System again if long queues continue at Portugal’s airports.
“I won’t deny that we are unhappy with the response from border control services at the airports, especially in Lisbon,” he said during a visit to Caminha.
The prime minister warned that the government could take “tougher” measures, if necessary, to reduce waiting times for passengers.
“If we have to take stronger action – more severe measures – we will do so,” Montenegro said.
“We do not want to put the country’s security at risk, but we also do not want to damage the country’s economic activity.
“We have European obligations and we are fulfilling them, but obviously we cannot be penalised,” he insisted. “We will prioritise security in the country, but at the same time we must safeguard Portugal’s economic interests,” in a clear reference to the tourism sector.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, one disgruntled businessman, who Essential Business has chosen not to name, pointed out that the “2023 record for border patrol clearance at Faro airport was four hours and 19 minutes.
“I was there. My wife and brother-in-law work for Jet2Holidays Faro. But tourism is a small world. Let me explain: customers kept waiting were being met by PAGS Golf. I know their local manager…
These clients were traveling from UK with Lotus Supertravel – my oldest clients dating to 1995. That record was broken in 2024 with awful delays. The record was over five hours.
Worse, if the delays weren’t bad enough, it’s the terrible attitude of many PSP and long-serving border patrol staff”, the passenger complained.
Telling British tourists who pay their wages they “shouldn’t have BrExited” or “you wait, you’re not in the EU”, before chucking passports back, aside laughing among themselves and willfully delaying hard-working decent people and their families, never mind being regularly understaffed on Sundays, bank holidays, festival and saint days… frankly disgraceful behaviour and utter disorganisation”, he added.
And in an extra twist on Tuesday, Lisbon Mayor, Carlos Moedas also called for the EES system to be suspended temporarily until the technical and other problems were sorted out.
Sources: Essential Business/Portugal Resident/noticiasaominuto/ CNN/ SIC Notícias, Credits: Algarve Resident.
O conteúdo e-Gates fail at Lisbon airport again as travel misery for non-Schengen visitors continues aparece primeiro em Essential Business.
