Latest news with #TenerifeSouthAirport
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Daily Record
Brit arrested at airport after staff notice 'strong smell' coming from his luggage
A British man has been arrested in the Canary Islands after workers detected a strong smell coming from his suitcase A 27-year-old Brit was detained by police at an airport in Spain's Canary Islands after staff detected a peculiar odour emanating from his luggage. During a routine check at Lanzarote Airport's Terminal 2, which services internal flights within the island group, customs officials discovered the unusually light yet malodorous suitcase. The Guardia Civil of Spain swiftly located the owner of the bag, a British man intending to fly to Tenerife South Airport, the main transport hub of the islands. Given their experience with such matters, customs officers decided to inspect the contents of the suitcase in the presence of the Brit, suspecting he might be carrying illicit substances. While packing your 100ml liquids into a bag is typically a good way to speed your way through security, inside this Brits luggage, they located four black vacuum-sealed bags, weighing a total of four kilos, that brought his journey to an abrupt end. Inside the 27-year-old's bags, they uncovered a substantial quantity of trimmed cannabis buds, estimated to have a street value of around €7,260, or £6300, in the Canary Islands. The incident occurred on Monday, June 29, but details about the arrest were only made public by Spanish authorities two weeks later on July 14. The identity of the man has not been disclosed. The Guardia Civil apprehended the British chap along with his substantial stash of cannabis, a Class B drug in the UK. However, Spain's laws differ, where the substance is legal for recreational use, and individuals are even permitted to cultivate a small quantity for personal consumption. Nonetheless, the distribution and sale of cannabis are still prohibited nationwide. Consequently, the Briton now stands accused of public health offences and will be presented before the Court of Instruction in Arrecife for trial.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is the end of the dreaded airport queue in sight? Not quite
Last week, British passengers arriving at Tenerife South Airport reported 'inhumane' conditions after queueing for more than two hours without access to water or loos. 'We couldn't move our arms, we could barely breathe, and people were sweating. Some parents lifted their children onto their shoulders to stop them from suffocating,' one passenger told local media. It's a frightening image, and one that has become more common at European airports since British air passengers became 'third-country nationals' after Brexit. This effectively gives us the same rights as arrivals from, say, Venezuela, banishing us to the often snail-paced 'All Passports' queue to get a stamp on arrival. When flying home we must also pass through border control to get a second exit stamp before proceeding to the gate. This can lead to scenarios where passengers are kettled at the gates with no access to refreshments if a flight is delayed, and no way to go back to the main terminal area. Change, it seems, is on the horizon. The Labour party has struck a deal with the EU to allow British passport holders to pass through e-gates, and the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) in October will automate identity checks and remove the need for manual passport stamps. So will these images of British passengers snaking out of arrival halls at European airports soon be a thing of the past? Yes, but it may take a while. When it first rolls out, EES will require British (and all non-EU) travellers to provide fingerprints and facial images when entering or exiting the Schengen Area. This process has been much-delayed, not least because implementing it requires a continent-wide tech overhaul. And as we all know, airport IT systems, often operated by third-party firms and alongside multiple other systems, have a tendency to buckle at inopportune moments. If the new tech doesn't create hold-ups, the data capture process could. Pressing thumbs on sensors and having a photograph taken may sound like a simple process, but how many times have you seen somebody push their passport into the e-gate sensor the wrong way up? Such are the fears of hold-ups that airports are planning 'safety valve' procedures, where the requirement to capture everyone's data will be temporarily waived if a checkpoint gets too busy. On e-gates, I have found this new Labour/EU e-gates 'agreement' to be somewhat smoke and mirrors. The wording in the relevant document says that 'British passengers will be able to use more e-gates in Europe'. But this does not necessarily mean we will be able to use fast-track EU e-gates. Instead, it might be that we remain in the naughty ('All Passports') queue that happens to have an e-gate at the end of it. This will ultimately be up for individual countries and airports to decide. I will allow you to decide whether we are likely to receive sympathy on this matter, or not. Perhaps I'm being overly negative. Let's say that the EES roll-out isn't as clunky as feared, and that through some miracle the majority of European airports do kindly allow Britons to use their fast-track e-gates. Surely the airport queues will have simmered down by next summer? Maybe. But we will still face the additional border check when flying home (albeit with biometrics rather than a passport stamp). And hold-ups like those seen in Tenerife are as much to do with poor scheduling as anything else. I checked the arrivals board on Tuesday June 2, and at 10.40am there were scheduled flights from Manchester (Jet2), Liverpool (Jet2), East Midlands (Tui) and Bournemouth (Ryanair). Ten minutes later, flights from Birmingham and Leeds (both Jet2) were scheduled to land, plus another from Paris. That's seven 180-or-so capacity flights touching onto tarmac, one after the other, in the space of ten minutes, at a single-runway, single-terminal airport. Even the sleekest, AI-powered biometric arrivals system would struggle to process all those passengers without the formation of a queue. There are some changes to the airport process that we can feel optimistic about. Soon, we'll be able to take greater quantities of liquids through security at all UK airports. A shake-up of UK flight paths promises to reduce air traffic delays before the end of the decade. And yes, all this new tech will eventually reduce friction at borders. But when you are stuck in a packed arrivals hall with a child on your shoulders and no access to water, you will be praying for progress now – not at some ambiguous point in the future. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Local Spain
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
Tenerife airport chaos strengthens case for Brits' e-gate access in Spain
Several UK tabloids recently reported how on May 26th hundreds of British holidaymakers faced "third-world', 'inhumane' and "cattle-like" conditions at Tenerife South Airport. As four UK flights landed in quick succession, a bottleneck formed at passport control which meant passengers queued for more than two hours in stifling and overcrowded airport lounges. Travellers complained that only two booths were manned for hundreds of British visitors, as well as speaking out about the 'claustrophobic' conditions and no access to toilets. The problems were reported to have been made worse by the fact that children were unable to use e-gates to check their passports. Rosa Dávila, president of Tenerife's Council, called an emergency meeting after the incident saying that chaos and long queues have become a common problem at the airport during peak tourist periods. Dávila called the situation 'unacceptable' and blamed Madrid for failing to provide sufficient immigration officers to the Canary island since Brexit. 'This is a structural issue,' she explained. We can't continue to operate with the same staffing levels we had pre-Brexit'. The incident strengthens the case for Britons to be able to use e-gates in Spain - without the need for a passport stamp - as soon as possible, in order to avoid repeats and potential crushes at passport control. Spain is one of only a handful of EU countries already allowing limited e-gate access for UK citizens, but only at selected airports. Even then, they often still require a passport stamp, despite their passport also being processed automatically. During the recent UK-EU 'reset' talks, the UK and the European Commission promised to "continue their exchanges on smooth border management for the benefit of their citizens, including the potential use of e-gates where appropriate". They stated that "there will be no legal barriers to e-gates use for British nationals travelling to and from the European Union member states after the introduction of the European Union Entry/Exit System". This means that it's likely that UK citizens will not have access to e-gates until the introduction of the new EES (Entry/Exit System), which scheduled for later this year in October 2025. "After that it's up to the member states. But this gives us the possibility, I'd say the probability, that people will be able to use the e-gates in future, which is not a possibility at the moment," Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden told the BBC. Unfortunately, this won't help the situation this summer when thousands of Brits will be descending on Spain for their annual holidays, with the potential to cause chaos at even more airports across the country, not just in Tenerife. Spain has long been a favourite holiday destination for British tourists and the Spain-UK route is one of the busiest flight routes in the world. Spain received more than 17.5 million British holidaymakers during the first 11 months of 2024. There are also over 400,000 UK nationals officially registered as living in Spain according to Spain's National Institute of Statistics (INE) data from 2024. Recent events at Tenerife South Airport highlight the recurring problems that come about since barriers were put in up between two countries linked together by more than 200 daily flights. Even though granting British travellers access to all Spanish airports' e-gates seems like a feasible way to reduce these Brexit-fuelled holdups, there are fears that the implementation of the EES across the EU in October will also cause chaos before the system is running smoothly. However, once EES is fully operational, and queues for passport stamps are no longer necessary, it's possible that scenes such as that at Tenerife South will be a thing of the past.
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tourists face 'inhuman' queues at Spanish airport amid emergency meeting
Hundreds of UK holidaymakers were left queuing for hours at Tenerife South Airport on Monday, with chaos and 'inhuman' conditions reportedly leaving kids and parents distressed Brits caught in the chaos of Tenerife South Airport have described horrifying scenes as crowds wilted in the heat. Last Monday night, coinciding with the school holidays in the UK, more than 500 people found themselves packed into a waiting area at the Canary Islands travel hub. They waited for hours to pass through the security as a bottleneck formed by two checkpoints, each staffed by two National Police officers. Top Spanish officials will now hold an urgent meeting after the tourists faced "inhuman" conditions at the start of the school holidays. Many were held on a sweltering plane for 45 minutes, only to disembark and find broken escalators and lengthy queues for passport checks. Becks Gravil was one of those swept up in the chaos. It took her family two hours to leave the airport after landing at 8.30pm. "Never in my life have I ever seen it this bad," she explained. "There was fighting, people being sick, people fainting - all crammed in like sardines. What should have been an hour from landing to Adeje turned into four hours. What a day!" Lourdes Torrecillas, who had just landed from Bristol, described the horror that unfolded in front of her after she disembarked following a long wait on the tarmac. "They kept us on the plane for 45 minutes without being able to leave, and when we arrived at the terminal, the escalators weren't working. Retirees and entire families with babies had to cope as best they could, carrying their children and belongings in the midst of a huge traffic jam," she told Diario. 'There were more than 500 people waiting standing, we couldn't move our arms or even breathe, everyone was sweating; there were elderly couples and babies under a year old; some children were crying, others were screaming, and some parents were carrying them on their shoulders so they wouldn't suffocate. "Next to me was an elderly man with an insulin pump, and further away, a frantic family; I thought something serious could happen. There weren't even bathrooms in that area." A taxi driver who picks up passengers from the airport claimed that such waits and crowds are a regular occurrence and that medical workers are often called on to care for unwell passengers who suffer fainting spells. Other Brits who had recently jetted out to Tenerife claimed they'd had similar issues on different dates. Lynda McLaughlin said: "It is nothing to do with half term. We landed on May 3 at 12.30pm and this is exactly how it was then. There was no organisation whatsoever. It is crazy." Another passenger who landed on the same day described it as "hell". Carol Perry added: "The same happened to us three weeks ago, at the same time of night. There were only two passport control officers on and one person trying to sort out queues who didn't have a clue what she was doing. It was bedlam. It wasn't school holidays then either. Tenerife's ruling council, has called an emergency meeting in response to the incident, citing the recurring chaos during peak tourism periods. Dávila deemed the situation "unacceptable", attributing it to inadequate staffing for border checks following the UK's EU exit. If Labour is able to push ahead with its plans for UK passport holders to use queues for EU citizens only, this issue could be eased in coming months. The situation at the airport was made worse on Monday when the automated check-in systems failed to recognise children's passports, forcing families with their little ones and luggage to wait for hours under the scorching heat just to begin their holidays. Get travel warnings straight to your WhatsApp! Off on holiday soon? The Mirror has launched its very own Travel WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest travel warnings for everything from staycations to getaways in sunny Spain. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will 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. Expressing her frustration, the council's President disclosed that she had reached out to mainland politicians but was met with lacklustre responses, lamenting, "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," she said. Tenerife Tourism Minister Lope Afonso expressed alarm at the first impression visitors receive, stating, "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 explained. Additionally, Afonso issued a stark warning about the potential disaster awaiting summer tourists if improvements are not made urgently. He said: "We need immediate solutions to avoid this happening again, especially with the busy summer season ahead."
Irish Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
UK tourists rage at 'inhuman' Brexit queues at airport in travel hotspot
An emergency meeting has been called among top Spanish politicians after British travellers found themselves trapped in two-hour queues and "inhuman" conditions at the start of the school holidays, before even making it through passport control. On Monday (May 26), around 500 UK holidaymakers found themselves stuck waiting on the tarmac at Tenerife South Airport for up to 45 minutes, before disembarking to find broken-down escalators and vast lines stretching in and out of the terminal to have their passports checked. At the airport, some travellers reported seeing four officials manning just two passport control booths. As a result, passengers were crammed into a situation described as "claustrophobic" and "third world," reports The Mirror. Lourdes Tourecillas, a local resident who was returning from Bristol, told Canarian Weekly: "Some parents lifted their children onto their shoulders to stop them from suffocating." "There were no toilets, and people were visibly distressed," she added. The President of Tenerife's ruling council, Rosa Dávila, has called an emergency meeting in light of the incident, with chaos and long queues becoming a common problem at the busy airport during peak tourism periods. Dávila called the situation "unacceptable", but blamed the situation on the continued failure to provide sufficient staff for border checks ever since the UK left the European Union. She added: "This is a structural issue. We can't continue to operate with the same staffing levels we had pre-Brexit." A major issue facing travellers on Monday was the inability of the airport's automated checking systems to process children's passports. This meant families having to queue with kids and baggage for hours in sweltering, lengthy, lines to kick off their holidays. The council's President said she had written to mainland politicians, but received no meaningful response. "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," she said. Lope Afonso, Tenerife's Tourism Minister, 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. "Tenerife competes globally. Other countries have adapted their systems since Brexit. Why haven't we?" He also had a warning for summer travellers if Spanish mainland politicians don't take action, saying: "We need immediate solutions to avoid this happening again, especially with the busy summer season ahead."
