Brits forced into HUGE queues at Spain airport fearing kids would ‘suffocate' in lines so big planes couldn't disembark

The Irish Sun

30-05-2025

HUNDREDS of Brit tourists have been trapped like cattle in "inhuman" conditions at a Spanish airport - forcing politicians into a crisis meeting.
Parents had to lift their children in the air to "stop them suffocating" in the crush at
Were you stuck in the queues at Tenerife airport? Email
5
Hundreds of people queued out of the building to be allowed into Tenerife
Credit: Tiktok
5
Inside, people were crammed like cattle in stuffy and 'inhuman' conditions
Credit: Tiktok
5
Some passengers arriving at Tenerife airport were even forced to wait on the plane for almost an hour
Credit: Getty
Around 500 holidaymakers
Several UK flights arrived in quick
succession
, and there were just two passport booths staff by four officers on hand to process the hoards.
Progress was agonisingly slow - with passengers crammed in line for over two hours before finally getting through.
read more on spain's airports
Some were even held on the stuffy plane on the runway for almost an hour while the backlog cleared.
Conditions were sweltering inside
Lourdes Torrecillas, a Tenerife resident returning from Bristol, told local media the situation "claustrophobic" and "third world".
She was made to sit on the plane for 45 minutes and said: "Once inside, we couldn't move our arms, we could barely breathe, and people were sweating.
Most read in The Sun
"Some parents lifted their children onto their shoulders to stop them from suffocating. There were no toilets, and people were visibly distressed.'
The local fumed: 'This was an inhumane wait. These are people who've paid to enjoy a few days of sunshine, they shouldn't be treated like cattle.'
Major Brit holiday airport fumigated after infestation of BEDBUGS with passengers & airline staff reporting itchy bites
Lourdes slammed the lack of medical care and revealed that the airline did not even provide children with water.
She also claimed staff said the airport descends into similar chaos "almost every night".
But the exhausted passenger ultimately laid the blame at the feet of the airport operator, AENA, and called on the government to boost the workforce.
One of the reasons behind Monday's bedlam was that the airport's automatic check in system could not process children's passports.
This led to families with restless kids and piles of luggage stranded in crowds for hours.
5
There were just two passport booths run by four officers processing the crowds
Credit: Tiktok
5
Tenerife is a hugely popular holiday destination thanks to its idyllic coastline
Credit: Getty
The President of Tenerife's ruling council, Rosa Dávila, called an emergency meeting following the mayhem.
She admitted the situation was "unacceptable", but blamed a lack of border staff which she said has been a problem ever since Brexit.
Similar chaos has played out at the airport in the past during peak tourism season.
Dávila said she had written to mainland politicians but feels abandoned by them.
She vented: "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
."
What are the passport rules?
The Sun's Head of Travel Lisa Minot has explained exactly what Brits need to know.
"Travellers used to be able to roll over up to nine unused months from their old passport onto a new one.
"But post-Brexit, anyone wanting to travel to the EU can no longer rely on those extra months.
"In order to travel to the EU, all passports must be no more than 10 years old on the day you arrive in your European destination.
"And you'll need at least three months on your passport on the day you head back to the UK.
"Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than 10 years old.
"The 10-year rule only applies to countries in the European Union but every country may have different rules on what is accepted - some countries like South Africa, for example, insist you have at least six months left on your passport when you travel and a full clear page."
The Tenerife hotel association, Ashotel, has repeatedly warned that these intolerable delays will spoil the island's reputation and deter Brits from coming.
Tenerife's Tourism Minister, Lope Afonso, warned: "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 continued: "Tenerife competes globally. Other countries have adapted their systems since Brexit. Why haven't we?
"We need immediate solutions to avoid this happening again, especially with the busy
summer
season ahead."