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Dublin Live
26-05-2025
- Dublin Live
New 9pm to 5am rule in Spanish airports to affect Irish tourists
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Irish holidaymakers are set for a big shake-up as they encounter new nighttime rules at Spanish airports, with Madrid airport taking action against the growing issue of individuals sleeping rough within its facilities. Approximately 400 people have taken to overnighting at the major European hub, which has led to a response from Madrid-Barajas Airport. The airport has taken on a private security company to tackle the problem of homeless people bedding down for the night in its terminals. To curb access during the unsocial hours between 9pm and 5am, AENA, the airport operator, has decided to cut down terminal accessibility and bulk up on security staff in Terminal 4, reports Birmingham Live. There's now a cap on terminal entry points during these hours; just five accesses for Terminals 1, 2, and 3, plus four for Terminal 4. The clampdown, featuring an extra 22 security officers, aims to improve what Aena tags as "unsafe and unhealthy" conditions. Addressing the distinct nature of airport operations compared to other public transportation hubs, Israel Vellisca from UGT Madrid's Federation of Mobility and Consumer Services (Fesmc) stated: "This is not a train or metro station with set closure hours." "Any restriction on access to a public space must be justified and documented," union sources have stressed. The CCOO union section in the airport authority Aena group has raised concerns about: "The serious situation that both workers and airport users have been enduring for months, due to the continued and growing presence of homeless people residing in various parts of the airport facilities, particularly in the passenger terminals and transit areas." "This is a social problem, not a labour issue," Vellisca highlighted. "Madrid Airport is the first and last image tourists have of Spain. We require a long-term, humane solution that involves public institutions, social organisations, and proper support services." The union has reported receiving 'multiple complaints from workers from different groups, including cleaning, security, handling, customer service, shops, and catering, alleging unsanitary conditions, persistent smells, the use of restrooms as overnight areas, accumulation of belongings, occasional aggression, and a lack of effective intervention by the competent authorities.' Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- Wales Online
Spain cracks down on 'unsafe' and 'unhealthy' behaviour at country's airports
Spain cracks down on 'unsafe' and 'unhealthy' behaviour at country's airports Around 400 people are believed to be sleeping at Madrid's Barajas Airport every night, prompting the airport operator to employ a private security firm to address the growing issue Members of the Spanish Union of Airline Pilots (SEPLA) are set to go on strike (Image: Europa Press 2023/Getty ) UK holidaymakers are set to experience a significant shift at Spanish airports, as EU transport hubs implement new access restrictions between 9pm and 5am. At Madrid-Barajas Airport, approximately 400 people have been found to be using the airport as a makeshift overnight shelter, leaving during the day and returning at night to sleep. To curb this issue, Madrid's main airport has contracted a private security firm to counteract the increasing problem of homeless people staying in its terminals after hours. The establishment, operated by AENA, is boosting its security teams and setting limitations on nighttime entry, with particular emphasis on Terminal 4. Curbing access involves limiting entrance to solely five points from 9pm to 5am. With doors remaining open at only five access points across Terminals 1, 2, and 3 and an additional four in Terminal 4, AENA aims to tackle what it describes as "unsafe and unhealthy" circumstances by enhancing its squad of private security officers with an extra 22 members to uphold the fresh regulations. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Israel Vellisca, a representative for the Federation of Mobility and Consumer Services (Fesmc) of UGT Madrid, said: "This is not a train or metro station with set closure hours.", reports Birmingham Live. Article continues below Union sources have stressed, "Any restriction on access to a public space must be justified and documented". The CCOO union section at Aena has raised concerns about "the serious situation that both workers and airport users have been suffering for months, due to the continued and growing presence of homeless people staying in various areas of the airport facilities, especially in the passenger terminals and transit areas.". "This is a social problem, not a labor issue," Vellisca pointed out. "Madrid Airport is the first and last image tourists have of Spain. "We need a long-term, humane solution that involves public institutions, social organizations, and proper support services." Article continues below The union has reported receiving multiple complaints from workers from different groups, including cleaning, security, handling, customer service, shops, and catering, alleging unsanitary conditions, persistent smells, the use of restrooms as overnight areas, accumulation of belongings, occasional aggression, and a lack of effective intervention by the competent authorities.
