Emergency meeting after brit tourists face 'inhuman' queues at spanish airport

THE CHAOTIC SCENES AT TENERIFE SOUTH AIRPORT HAVE SPARKED OUTRAGE AMONG BRITISH TOURISTS, WITH SPANISH OFFICIALS NOW SET TO DISCUSS WHAT WENT WRONG WILLIAM MORGAN Senior reporter 04:42, 30

May 2025Updated 05:16, 30 May 2025 An urgent summit has been convened by top Spanish officials following distressing scenes at the outset of the school holidays, which saw Brits caught up in

torturous two-hour queues and "inhuman" conditions before even reaching passport control. On Monday (May 26), British holidaymakers numbering approximately 500 found themselves

marooned on the Tenerife South Airport tarmac, enduring waits of about 45 minutes to disembark, only to be greeted by out-of-order escalators and sprawling lines snaking in and out of the

terminal building for passport verification. Reports from the airport indicated a meagre provision of officials, with merely four attending to duties across just two open booths, driving

passengers into a situation depicted as "claustrophobic" and likened to "third world" standards. Local returnee from Bristol, Lourdes Tourecillas, conveyed the extent of

the crisis to Canarian Weekly, saying: "Some parents lifted their children onto their shoulders to stop them from suffocating," further highlighting that "there were no

toilets, and people were visibly distressed." READ MORE: Mum hospitalised on 5-star, £8,000 holiday from hell in TurkeyREAD MORE: Popular summer holiday destination 'police

state' warning Rosa Dávila, President of Tenerife's ruling council, has summoned an immediate gathering to address these incidents—a troubling pattern amidst peak travel times at

the busy airport While branding the circumstances "unacceptable", Dávila attributed the chronic staffing shortages at border controls to the complications arising after Brexit.

Article continues below She argued: "This is a structural issue. We can't continue to operate with the same staffing levels we had pre-Brexit." Monday's travel chaos was

exacerbated by the airport's automated check-in systems failing to recognise children's passports, resulting in families enduring long waits with their little ones and luggage in

the sweltering heat. The council's President expressed her frustration at the lack of engagement from mainland politicians, stating: "There's a serious lack of respect towards

Tenerife. We're managing essential services locally, but without state support, we're being left to fail," she lamented. Tenerife's Tourism Minister, Lope Afonso,

highlighted the negative impact on the island's image as a holiday destination: "This is the first impression our visitors get. After hours on a plane, they're met with long

waits and no explanation. It's not acceptable, and it's hurting our brand as a quality tourist destination," he criticised. "Tenerife competes globally. Other countries

have adapted their systems since Brexit. Why haven't we?". Article continues below Afonso also issued a stark warning about the potential for repeat issues during the peak summer

period unless there is intervention: "We need immediate solutions to avoid this happening again, especially with the busy summer season ahead."