LISBON, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Immigration control waiting time at Lisbon airport exceeded seven hours on Tuesday, resulting in operational losses for airlines and missed passenger connections. Travelers report that border control delays have intensified since the pandemic, reaching their worst levels during the end-of-year holiday period.
Tuesday's delays are the latest in a series of severe bottlenecks at Humberto Delgado Airport, Portugal's main international hub. Waiting time has recently climbed to nearly nine hours, leaving crowds of exhausted travelers stuck in overcrowded corridors.
The crisis has drawn a sharp outcry. The Association of Airlines in Portugal stated that Lisbon airport lacks adequate infrastructure for the new European Union border control system for non-EU citizens, which came into operation on Oct. 12, with the second phase beginning on Dec. 10 with biometric data collection.
The government approved a resolution authorizing the Public Security Police to spend 7.5 million euros (8.85 million U.S. dollars) through 2028 for acquiring machines to implement integrated systems aimed at improving migration flow management at the airport.
The National Republican Guard may be deployed to the airport to reinforce border control operations currently under Public Security Police supervision.
The delays reflect broader challenges European airports face in implementing the EU Entry/Exit System, requiring enhanced security measures and biometric data collection from third-country nationals. (1 euro = 1.18 U.S. dollars)
