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Dublin Live
05-05-2025
- Dublin Live
Canary Island airport 'nightmare' experience as passengers face lengthy queues
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 As the summer holiday buzz kicks in, Irish holidaymakers are busy plotting their escapes to sun-soaked spots. Lanzarote, a gem among the Canary Islands, is a top pick for Irish travellers - but for some, their holiday begins not with relaxation but with frustration at the airport before they even set foot in their hotel. Lanzarote's Cesar Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, a key gateway to the Canaries, is now facing mounting criticism as passengers report chaotic queues, long waits for luggage and frustrating delays in getting a taxi. As more Irish holidaymakers prepare for the summer getaways, concerns are growing about how well the airport is equipped to handle the expected surge in visitors. The island's president Oswaldo Betancor has called for urgent action, acknowledging the ongoing issues at the airport. He has demanded a meeting with the Spanish airport authority AENA to address the ongoing issues and is particularly concerned with insufficient staffing levels, reports the Irish Mirror. 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." The issue comes in the wake of a whopping 800,000 passengers travelling through the airport this March alone. For many holidaymakers, including the Irish contingent, the first taste of their break is getting soured by long, uncomfortable waits. Travellers are expressing frustration over significant delays for baggage retrieval and passport control – and that's just the beginning. Once they navigate through the terminal, many are faced with further disappointment, struggling to secure a taxi. A UK tourist who recently arrived at Lanzarote recounted their ordeal, stating: "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. 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." They continued: "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." Mirror UK journalist Victoria Chessum also recently traveled through Lanzarote Airport and shared her frustration: "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." Local residents share the same concerns, saying there is a "significant mismatch" between supply and demand and that something needs to be done. Authorities have begun talks with the taxi association, hoping to implement a digitalised system to improve the flow of passengers and reduce wait times. Despite the current chaos, there is hope for the future. The airport has laid out plans for expansion and upgrades as part of its Master Plan. The goal is to remodel Terminal 1, expanding check-in, boarding and security areas to accommodate more passengers efficiently. The airport also intends to connect Terminals 1 and 2 in the boarding area, once security control has been passed, to streamline passenger flow. These plans are expected to improve operational efficiency and overall service quality at the airport in the coming years. 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.
The Irish Sun
05-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Irish holidaymakers jetting to popular Spanish hotspot issued new warning amid ‘holiday horror' airport
AN URGENT warning has been issued to all Irish holidaymakers after a popular airport in Spain is experiencing travel disruption. As many Irish holidaymakers are set to plan their holidays in Europe and beyond to escape to sunnier destinations but a hotspot in Advertisement 2 The airport has revealed its plans to enhance the passenger flow Credit: Alamy 2 Lanzarote's Cesar Manrique-Lanzarote Airport is currently experiencing some disruption Credit: EPA However, their Due to the ongoing crisis of tourism surge in the bustling airport, there are growing concerns about how well the airport is equipped to handle the busy travel season. Advertisement READ MORE ON SPAIN Oswaldo Betancor, the president of the island, has acknowledged the persistent problems at the airport and asked for immediate action. He is especially worried about the lack of staffing levels and has called for a meeting with AENA, the Spanish airport body, to discuss the persistent problems. He 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." These issues come in the wake of more than 800,000 passengers passing through the airport in March alone. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Due to the influx of tourists, many Irish holidaymakers said that their first impression of their trip is often spoiled by long and They have reported that they faced long waits to get their luggage and clear passport control, but that doesn't stop there; it also applies to finding a taxi. Thousands of anti-tourist protesters flood Spanish hols hotspots & call on mob to super glue holiday rental locks Talking to The Mirror, one frustrated British holidaymaker said: "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 "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! Advertisement "When we asked a Similar worries are expressed by locals, who claim that something needs to be done because of the "significant mismatch" between supply and demand. PLANS TO ENHANCE PASSENGER FLOW In an effort to enhance passenger flow and cut down on wait times, authorities have started discussions with the taxi association about using a digitalised system. The airport also has laid out plans for expansion and upgrades in hopes to combat the current chaos. Advertisement The new plan includes a remodel of Terminal 1, which includes an expansion of check-in, boarding and security areas to accommodate more passengers efficiently. In order to improve passenger flow, the airport also plans to connect Terminals 1 and 2 in the boarding area after security control is lifted. It is anticipated that these measures will enhance the airport's overall service quality and operating efficiency in the upcoming years.
Irish Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Spain airport branded 'holiday horror' as Irish trapped in chaos-filled queues
With summer holiday season just around the corner, many people across Ireland are eagerly planning their trips to sunnier destinations. Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, is a firm favourite for Irish tourists - however, for some, their holiday begins not with relaxation but with frustration at the airport before they even set foot in their hotel. Lanzarote's Cesar Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, a major travel hub in the Canary Islands, is now facing mounting criticism as passengers report chaotic queues, long waits for luggage and frustrating delays in getting a taxi. As more Irish holidaymakers prepare for the summer getaways, concerns are growing about how well the airport is equipped to handle the expected surge in visitors. The island's president Oswaldo Betancor has called for urgent action, acknowledging the ongoing issues at the airport. He has demanded a meeting with the Spanish airport authority AENA to address the ongoing issues and is particularly concerned with insufficient staffing levels. 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." These issues come in the wake of more than 800,000 passengers passing through the airport in March alone. For many tourists, including those from Ireland, the first impression of their holiday is often marred by long, uncomfortable waits. Passengers have reported facing lengthy waits to get their luggage and clear passport control - but the problems don't end there. Once through the terminal, they claim to be met with another challenge - finding a taxi. One UK holidaymaker who recently travelled to Lanzarote shared their experience, writing: "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. 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." Mirror UK journalist Victoria Chessum also recently traveled through Lanzarote Airport and shared her frustration: "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." Local residents share the same concerns, saying there is a "significant mismatch" between supply and demand and that something needs to be done. Authorities have begun talks with the taxi association, hoping to implement a digitalised system to improve the flow of passengers and reduce wait times. Despite the current chaos, there is hope for the future. The airport has laid out plans for expansion and upgrades as part of its Master Plan. The goal is to remodel Terminal 1, expanding check-in, boarding and security areas to accommodate more passengers efficiently. The airport also intends to connect Terminals 1 and 2 in the boarding area, once security control has been passed, to streamline passenger flow. These plans are expected to improve operational efficiency and overall service quality at the airport in the coming years.
