Once again, passport control at Lanzarote’s César Manrique Airport has descended into chaos, with long queues, frustrated travellers and criticism mounting over what many say is a recurring failure to manage the flow of non-EU passengers, particularly British holidaymakers.
Passengers arriving from the UK were met with long delays over the weekend, as staffing shortages, faulty equipment, and an inadequate passport control area caused yet another bottleneck at one of the island’s main gateways.
Despite the UK’s departure from the EU nearly five years ago, authorities appear unprepared for the continuing need to properly process British passport holders. The designated passport control zone is reportedly too small to handle the volume of visitors, and although automatic e-gates have been installed, many remained unused or non-operational until recently.
Police unions have repeatedly warned that there are not enough National Police officers assigned to the airport’s immigration services. The airport was promised 45 officers, but only 11 have been deployed, and just two of them are working in the overwhelmed passport control section.
The president of the Lanzarote Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, has condemned the situation, calling it “a joke”, vowing to demand answers from the central government. “I will be sending a formal letter from the Presidency to the Government Delegation to get clarity on this issue. We will not stop fighting for Lanzarote,” he said.
Taxis Also Under Fire
The chaos didn’t end at passport control. Outside the terminal, passengers faced another headache, getting a taxi to their accommodation.
One tourist told Lancelot Digital: “It’s outrageous. I spent more time queuing for a taxi than I did flying.” A video shared online showed a long line of travellers waiting at the taxi rank, a scene that has become all too common during peak travel periods.
During the Christmas holidays, similar delays were reported, and the issue remains unresolved. Locals and tourists alike are now calling for the introduction of ride-hailing services such as Uber or Cabify, which currently do not operate on the island.
“There simply aren’t enough taxi licences to meet the demand,” one resident said. “It’s unacceptable for a tourist destination of this size to have so few transport options.”
With the summer season fast approaching, concerns are growing that unless urgent action is taken, Lanzarote’s reputation as a quality holiday destination could be at risk.
