11 hours ago
'Horrendous' queues at Spanish airport as tourists 'stuck in stairwell'
Tourists at a well-used Spanish airport have complained of lengthy queues and 'chaos' at security and waiting to board, with some even claiming they had to wait in a stairwell in sweltering heat
Holidaymakers have been left in dismay as they filmed the lengthy queues at Alicante airport, with tourists struggling to return home after soaking up the Spanish sun. A TikTok video showed off the long waits for passengers to board their flights or clear security.
The now-viral footage has sparked concern among holidaymakers planning to jet off from Alicante, with one anxious traveller posting on social media. They asked: "Gonna be there in three days, should I be worried?" The post has stirred unease amongst potential holiday-goers, fearing delays in their travel plans to and from Spain. Another distressed user shared: "Not looking forward to going back home."
A third person asked: "Oh no... is it very busy?"
One individual shared the "chaos" they claim to have witnessed at the airport, as they allege they were made to wait in a stairwell in sweltering heat alongside 200 other people.
Posting to social media, another claimed: "Felt your pain, we got stood in the tunnel thing to the plane for like 20 minutes. After being delayed it was like they were just teasing us"
A third disgruntled passenger's comment from June 16 slammed the airport chaos. It reads: "It was horrendous yesterday morning, 55 minutes to check in a bag."
Another frustrated flyer shared their exasperation over alleged repeated gate changes. Their frustrations were shared in a comment, which reads: "My flight went from B26 to B32 to B27, then B26, then back to B32. Absolute scenes."
Repeat visitors to Alicante airport expressed shock at the lengthy queues that were captured in the viral TikTok video. One commented: "Been flying from here for absolutely years, never seen it like this."
However, reports suggest congestion at Alicante airport is beginning to subside.
Earlier this week and late last week, tourists reported an easier flow through the terminals, with a traveller writing: "Strolled through airport Sunday just gone, a breeze. No issues."
Another reported: "Got through check in and security in 20 minutes last week."
Amid the squeeze at Alicante, protests against tourism have continued across Spain, with locals in Mallorca and Barcelona squirting tourists with water pistols on the streets.
Ironically, the protest tactic was welcomed by many in the blistering heat as it offered overheated tourists a welcome respite from the soaring temperatures.
Tourist Wanda Dorozenski told NPR: "That's lovely, thank you sweetheart. I am not going to complain. These people are feeling something to them that is very personal, and is perhaps destroying some areas (of the city)."
