Queues stretched along the T4 area of Madrid-Barajas as police passport control experienced issues this Monday morning, according to Iberia. The interruption at the terminal centralised automatic controls created long lines, delaying dozens of flights. Iberia noted that the problem typically surfaced between 10 and 12 o clock, impacting passengers on several connections. A notable instance involved travelers heading to Miami, Chicago, and Buenos Aires, where a group of one hundred people were unable to board immediately and faced a ten minute setback before the plane departed.
Iberia reported that the day’s difficulties stemmed from the shutdown of automatic passport machines, though the airline emphasised that National Police officers were still present at Madrid’s airport. Since March 1, higher levels of disconnections have been observed, yet the Ministry of Interior rejected claims of persistent queues or delays at passport control at Spanish airports. Officials argued that passenger flow continued to be managed through police checkpoints. Some officials warned that circulating information may be driven by interest groups rather than current conditions.
The disruption affected connecting passengers, who represent roughly 30 percent of Iberia’s traffic at Madrid and account for about half of international flights. For these passengers, a typical minimum connection window ranges from 45 to 55 minutes, with up to 165 minutes sometimes required by the airline and other carriers for transfers at T4 or, if not, T4S or another terminal.
By late March, the Airlines Association of Spain, which represents carriers responsible for about 85 percent of national air traffic, had already warned about congestion at passport checks. It urged the government to increase the number of police officers at airports serving high-density international routes to ensure smooth traffic during Holy Week and the busy summer season. The appeal followed reports of alarming saturation at border screening points, with Malaga airport among those experiencing waits of up to an hour and a half at peak times.
The Association highlighted that since last summer, problems had been noted at Malaga, Alicante, Tenerife Sur, Madrid, and several Balearic and Canary Islands airports. The issue centred on passport control for departures to the United Kingdom and on EU entrants following Brexit, who require border checks upon arrival to Spain.
Javier Gandaraca, president of ALA and managing director for EasyJet in Spain and Portugal, appeared in a video calling for stronger policing at airport border controls to prevent long queues. He suggested that measures similar to those implemented in Portugal could be extended this summer, enabling British travelers and other Community passport holders to use automated machines to speed up entry processes and relieve congestion for visitors to the country. This stance was framed as a move to improve the customer experience for all travelers visiting Spain.