Chaos at Canary Island airport as Brits face huge queues and 'uncomfortable' wait

Edinburgh Live

02-05-2025

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British holidaymakers landing at Lanzarote airport are being met with "uncomfortable and chaotic" conditions, sparking calls for immediate action.
The island's president, Oswaldo Betancort, has admitted to the issues and is now demanding a high-level meeting with Spanish airport authority, AENA, following a turbulent period at the travel hub.
He claims there is a lack of police presence at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, which ranks as the tenth busiest in Spain and third in the Canary Islands, handling nearly 800,000 passengers in March alone.
The airport has been the target of numerous complaints over the years, particularly regarding the lengthy wait times for luggage collection and passport control. Tourists report that these processes take about an hour, followed by another long wait for a taxi.
Queues often wind around the concourse as passengers with their suitcases await the arrival of more taxis.
One traveller, recently returned to the UK after a holiday in Lanzarote, expressed their shock at the situation: "We were very shocked at the taxi situation at the airport. It took us about an hour to get through passports and to collect our luggage, so we were looking forward to getting to our hotel.", reports the Mirror.
"However, we were shocked to find a really massive queue at the taxi rank which literally snaked around the concourse. We had absolutely no choice but to join that queue, which must have been at least 300 people.
"It took us 55 minutes in total to get a taxi, which did nothing for our mood or Lanzarote's reputation! When we asked a taxi driver what the problem was, he said there were not enough taxis to cope with the number of arrivals. The time, we must point out, was 7.30pm, so probably not even the busiest time of the day."
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Local residents agree there is a "significant mismatch" between supply and demand and that something needs to be done. The authorities say creating a digitalised service is the way ahead, which is why it is opening a round of talks with the taxi association.
Of the lack of police officers at the airport, Mr Betancort said:" It is unacceptable that residents and visitors have to endure long waits due to insufficient staff at security checkpoints. More human and material resources are needed to guarantee efficient operation."
There are currently plans to expand the airport, to improve operational efficiency and quality of service. According to the Airport's Master Plan, the objective is to expand and remodel Terminal 1 to improve quality, also expanding the check-in, boarding and security control areas.
Likewise, terminals 1 and 2 will also be connected in the boarding area, once the security control has been passed.
The Mirror's Victoria Chessum provides an inside look into her recent ordeal at Lanzarote Airport, describing a less-than-smooth experience. She said: "I visited Lanzarote out of peak-season, and therefore ignorantly expected the airport to at least be manageable in terms of queues.
"While checking-in was super easy, along with bag-drop, navigating the small and disproportionate terminal building was not. Armed with a sleepy toddler, a pram, and a few hand luggage bags, the whole experience quickly escalated into something of a nightmare."