Persistent queues and long waits at passport controls are resurfacing at Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez airport. The pattern appeared intermittently during peak periods like last year’s summer and Easter, and it is now resurfacing ahead of this year’s anticipated travel rebound, with traveler numbers expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels well before the end of the year.
Airlines are raising concerns about the shortage of police presence at the capital’s airport to screen non-EU passengers. This task has always been essential for smooth operations of hundreds of flights linking Madrid with Latin American destinations, other European cities, and various points across Spain where many carriers are headquartered.
Complaints from the industry surfaced amid a broader dispute with the Ministry of Interior. The ministry has been accused of repeatedly promising more ground staff only to fall short, while asserting that last year it increased the number of officers assigned to passport checks at Barajas by about 25%. The Airlines Association (ALA), which represents most carriers in Spain, reports that in Barajas Terminal 4 alone, home to Iberia and Vueling, over 4,500 passengers missed their connections due to delays this month. This weekend, more than 1,000 travelers reportedly failed to reach their next flight after a stop in Madrid because of queues. Terminal 1, with heavy international traffic, could also be affected, though ALA has not yet quantified those numbers.
Javier Gándara, president of ALA and managing director of easyJet in Spain, commented, cAt this point in the season, even before Easter begins, it is unacceptable to see the endless queues at passport control, echoing last summer. d
Airlines are urging the government to deploy more police officers to participate in document checks. They request that the Interior Ministry allocate the necessary National Police resources to passport controls at Barajas and at other busy hubs with significant non-EU traffic to prevent a repeat of these situations.
The Home Office has responded by defending its position, blaming some delays on scheduled flights and a backlog of checked-in passengers this weekend. It points to the current shortage of ground personnel and argues that airlines should bear responsibility for potential queuing issues. The ministry, led by Fernando Grande-Marlaska, also notes that it has not received complaints from passengers about pending or missing connections at Barajas in recent weeks.
Last year, the number of agents assigned to passport control rose by about 25%, from 362 to 451 officers, aligning with a rebound in passenger traffic following COVID shutdowns. Official sources confirm that an additional 25 National Police agents are planned to reinforce Easter operations.
Airlines have been warned against allowing queues to derail the tourism rebound. cWe’ve had a good run this summer; we’re on track to return to pre-pandemic levels. The last thing we want is for international travelers to face endless passport lines as soon as they arrive. This issue must be resolved, d stated the ALA president. Last year, Interior announced the hiring of 500 extra agents for the peak season after widespread reports of queue chaos at major airports.
Spanish airport operator Aena reports ongoing growth in passenger traffic, noting February marked the second month of volume recovery beyond pre-COVID figures. The airport group reported 16.62 million passengers for February, a 2.2% increase versus February 2019 and a 39.6% rise compared with February 2022, underscoring the ongoing travel surge across Spain.
The rising concern over long lines at passport controls is tied to a broader discussion about the capacity of non-EU document processing at Spain’s busiest international hubs. Industry observers warn that a shortage of dedicated document-handling staff can trigger delays that ripple through flight schedules. The United Kingdom remains the leading source market for visitors to Spain post-Brexit, reinforcing the importance of streamlined border processes for sustaining tourism numbers and airport throughput.