Latest news with #OswaldoBetancort
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Canary Island airport plunged into passport queue chaos again as 3 issues blamed
As the Canary Islands prepares for an insufferably busy summer season, despite swathes of local protests, one tiny airport seems to be struggling to keep up with the demand Brits heading to the Canary Islands have been warned over ongoing chaos in one of its busiest airports. Last year, the archipelago, located off the coast of northwestern Africa, witnessed a staggering 15.5 million international visitors - despite a series of anti-tourist protests ordering holidaymakers to 'go home'. According to Spain's airport magnate Aena, 8.7 million of these tourists entered the Canaries through César Manrique Airport (also known as Arrecife Airport) in Lanzarote. But, with just one runway and a tiny duty-free area - the hub is edging dangerously close to its nine million capacity. As a result, the airport is often swamped with tourists - who are forced to wait in long queues waiting to get through passport control. According to Canarian Weekly, the chaos is being caused by three key issues: staffing shortages, faulty equipment, and an 'inadequate passport control area'. All of these factors are creating a 'bottleneck at one of the island's main gateways' - despite promises to improve the airport. Last month, the Spanish National Police said it was ready to deploy 45 new immigration officers to the aviation hub. As previously reported, this would effectively 'double the workforce' in the area and make passing through passport control a complete breeze. A spokesperson for the Canary Islands said the much-needed upgrade had been recommended for several years now - and warned that the new staff members should be exclusively assigned to work on border control duties. However, local media claims only 11 new immigration officers have actually been deployed - and only two of them are actually working in the passport control section. Oswaldo Betancort, the president of the Lanzarote Cabildo, has slammed the worsening situation, branding it 'a joke'. "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. It paints a bleak picture for Brits heading over to Lanzarote during the busy summer period. Tourists are likely to have a similar experience as the Mirror's Discover Editor Victoria Chessum - who witnessed the airport's carnage last year. "On arrival to the airport we had been informed numerous flights back to the UK had been delayed due to poor weather and visibility - something no one can help," she explained. "But the impact of this at Arrecife was dire - with no place to sit, let alone stand, while queues of people attempted to get food, or even reach their gate. "When we decided to brave one of the long lines for dinner, we were made to wait an hour for our order to simply be handed to my husband, who then spent around 10 minutes trying to get through swarms of people to find us. We had reluctantly perched on the end of someone's table." Victoria isn't the only person with a negative review of the airport - which has amassed a slew of one-star ratings on Google. "I was waiting in the queue for bag check / boarding pass for an hour," one person moaned. "The woman at the desk was chatting to other staff the entire time even though there were two long queues of people waiting." Another branded the hub 'chaotic and unorganised'.
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Canary Island airport chaos forces urgent meeting as Brits stuck in horror queues
A lack of "human and material resources" has resulted in length queues at this Canary Island airport. Now, the Island Council President has proposed a meeting to get things back on track. Recent chaos at César Manrique-Lanzarote airport has promoted coordinated efforts to upgrade the travel hub. British tourists arriving at Lanzarote airport have faced an 'uncomfortable and chaotic experience' which has elicited a response from the President of the Island Council in Lanzarote. President Oswaldo Betancort has requested a meeting with Spain's airport authority AENA to discuss the future of César Manrique Airport (also known as Arrecife Airport). According to Betancort, there are insufficient police on duty at the airport, which is the tenth-largest in the country by volume of passengers and third in the Canary Islands. The airport authority AENA already has plans to remodel the airport in 2026 with a budget of €140 million (£118.5 million). AENA's construction plan will include the extension and renovation of the Terminal 1 check-in, boarding and security zones. The renovation will also effectively join both of Lanzarote Airport's two terminals. Separate from the AENA renovation, the Island Council is also planning work on the airport zone and the LZ-2 main road. Because of this confluence, Betancort has proposed a meeting with AENA to coordinate efforts. Speaking of the Island Council project, Betancort shared: 'We want the remodelling of the airport terminal area to be inspired by the Lanzarote landscape and the spirit of César Manrique's work, with an architectural proposal that engages with the surroundings.' While the meeting is meant to help coordinate both construction efforts, Betancourt also reportedly plans to raise the subject of the long queues that have resulted from a shortage of border officers. '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,' says the Island Council President. The reputation of Lanzarote airport has suffered in recent years due to multiple complaints about the time it takes to retrieve luggage and get through passport control. British tourists have shared that getting through these checkpoints can take about an hour and is usually followed by long waits for a taxi. Lanzarote residents agree there is a "significant mismatch" between supply and demand of taxis at the airport. The local authorities say creating a digitalised service is the way forward and is thus beginning talks with the taxi association. The Mirror's Victoria Chessum recently traveled through Lanzarote Airport and experienced some of the chaos. She wrote: "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." Recent figures suggest César Manrique-Lanzarote airport was designed to accomodate nine million passengers, a figure that was nearly reached in 2024 with 8.7million recorded visitors. According to Canarian Weekly, this demonstrated a 6.1% increase from 2023. Reportedly, tourism figures have already seen an uptick in February 2025, with big arrivals expected for the approaching summer. The implementation of the European Commission's new Entry/Exit System is also expected to add to the queuing times at high-traffic borders across the continent. Non-EU travellers will be required to register their biometric data with passport control officers—including facial and fingerprint recognition—the first time they enter the EU after the new system is in place in October.
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Daily Record
Canary Island holidaymakers warned they face 'unacceptable' chaos on arrival at airport
Tourists have been warned of lengthy delays when they land. When you land at your destination on holiday, the aim is getting through customs and collecting your bags as swiftly as you can so your break can finally begin. But tourists landing at one Canary Island airport have been warned they face an 'uncomfortable and chaotic' experience. Passengers to Lanzarote Airport, the third busiest airport on the Canaries by volume of passengers, has been marred by slow baggage collection, lengthy taxi queues and insufficient police on duty. The island's president has now demanded action. President Oswaldo Betancort has asked for an urgent meeting with the Spanish airport authority, AENA, to address the issues causing lengthy delays at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport. Betancort said there are insufficient police on duty at the airport, which is the tenth busiest in the country by volume of passengers with nearly 800,000 in March alone. The airport has been the subject of numerous complaints in recent years, both for the time it takes to get luggage and then to go through passport controls. Tourists say this takes about an hour and is followed by another lengthy wait for a taxi. Queues often snake around the concourse as passengers with their suitcases wait for more taxis to arrive, reports the Mirror. One holidaymaker recently back in the UK after a break in Lanzarote 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 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." 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. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. 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. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 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 recently traveled through Lanzarote Airport and experienced some of the chaos. "She wrote: "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."
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Brits face airport hell at sunny hotspot with lengthy delays ruining holidays before they've even begun
Brits travelling to Lanzarote airport are likely to endure an 'uncomfortable and chaotic experience'. Oswaldo Betancort, the president of the island, made the comment amid calls for urgent action at the travel hub. Following numerous complaints in recent years, Mr Betancort is now calling for a meeting with the Spanish airport authority, AENA. According to the politician, among the issues at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, there are not enough police on duty when compared to the number of passengers - a situation he described as 'unacceptable'. 'It is unacceptable that residents and visitors have to endure long waits due to insufficient staff at security checkpoints,' Mr Betancort said. 'More human and material resources are needed to guarantee efficient operation.' Some 800,000 travellers passed through the airport in March this year, making it the country's tenth busiest in terms of passenger volume (and the third busiest in the Canary Islands). The complaints received by the airport in recent years include how long it takes to traverse the hub, with passengers noting that there are long waits for both baggage collection and at passport controls. This can take people around an hour - after which, they then have to queue up and wait for a significant amount of time for a taxi, with queues reportedly filling the concourse. According to the Mirror, one holidaymaker described being 'shocked' at how long they had to wait for a taxi. After spending around an hour collecting their luggage and getting through passport control, they said they had been looking forward to getting to the hotel - before being confronted by a 'really massive' queue for cabs. The holiday maker described this queue as 'literally snaking around the concourse', adding that there must have been around 300 people waiting for a car. 'It took us 55 minutes in total to get a taxi, which did nothing for our mood or Lanzarote's reputation,' they added. '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.' And it's not just people holidaying in the area who have raised issues: locals also feel there is 'significant mismatch' between the demand for amenities like taxis and the supply. According to the authorities, the solution is to create a digitalised service, and talks are being co-ordinated with the taxi association in order to proceed. There are reportedly plans to expand César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, in an effort to improve both the standard of service and efficiency of operations. The aim is to expand and remodel Terminal 1, according to the Airport's Master Plan, as well as expanding check-in, boarding and security control areas. In addition, connecting terminals 1 and 2 in the boarding area, past security control, is also in the plan.
Edinburgh Live
02-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Chaos at Canary Island airport as Brits face huge queues and 'uncomfortable' wait
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 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." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages 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."
