Europe: Travel disruptions news in Portugal

The Spanish government has temporarily reintroduced border checks at ports and airports for passengers arriving from Italy until September 7. This decision follows a diplomatic dispute after Italy suspended the Schengen Agreement for arrivals from Spain, citing security and migration concerns.

The European Union is rolling out a new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) at borders, which is expected to cause significant travel disruptions. Airports in Portugal, including Lisbon and Faro, may face long queues and flight delays as the new digital verification process is implemented during the busy summer season.

The European Commission has confirmed that Portugal will temporarily suspend the collection of biometric data for the Entry/Exit System (EES) at national airports when necessary. The measure aims to prevent excessive queues during peak travel times, with the government notifying Brussels of the planned suspensions.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that Europe has only about six weeks of aviation fuel reserves remaining due to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Executive Director Fatih Birol described the situation as the largest energy crisis ever faced, noting that flight cancellations may occur soon if supply chains remain disrupted. The European Commission is currently gathering data on refinery capacity to develop an emergency response plan.