Latest news and stories about travel in infrastructure in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
A 3.9 million euro contract has been awarded to provide technical assistance, training, and maintenance for biometric control systems at airports under the European Entry/Exit System.
Portugal has officially expanded its automated border control system, known as E-Gates, to include foreign residents, streamlining airport transit and reducing processing times for non-EU nationals.
The incident occurred with passengers arriving from Salvador, in the South Atlantic country. They were directed to a boarding gate, mixing with passengers who had already been screened.
329 out of 508 flights planned under minimum service requirements have been cancelled. Also in this edition, Paulo Raimundo, Secretary-General of the PCP, accuses the Government of “declaring war on workers” with its labour package.
The PSP carried out border control for approximately 52,000 passengers at national airports by 3:00 PM this Sunday, deciding to apply 16 precautionary measures to comply with Schengen area rules, according to official information. To reduce queues for passengers from outside the Schengen area, a reinforcement of human resources was decided.
The reduction coincides with the first day of increased human and technical resources at the airport. The Government may suspend the collection of biometric data at airports whenever significant delays occur, provided that Brussels is informed.
Nationwide, 360 new police officers assigned to the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders will be distributed across various airports in July.
The Minister of Infrastructure stated this Wednesday, May 20, that the Government is committed to finding a solution for airport queues. During a hearing at the Assembly of the Republic, Miguel Pinto Luz admitted that the situation frequently seen, with waits of two hours or more at border control, “is an embarrassment”. He added that the government is investing in hardware and expects to mitigate the situation in the coming weeks. The Ministry of Internal Administration announced that Lisbon Airport will have more manual border control booths starting May 29, and the Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, also expressed dissatisfaction with the current border control performance, threatening to suspend biometric data collection if the situation does not improve.
Manuela Niza Ribeiro, president of the Migration Technicians Union, analyses the border control delays seen in recent days at some national airports.
![“There was an option to turn the [Lisbon] airport into a shopping centre and that is now reflected in passenger delays”](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.iol.pt%2Fimage%2Fid%2F6a0d8b16d34edcee7c645d08%2F200.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The mayor says that if the system is not suspended “immediately,” a situation of “chaos” will be created at the capital's airport. Luís Montenegro has also suggested the same.
The trade union federation indicates that the plenary session will take place between 13:15 and 18:15.
A surprise inspection by the European Commission, conducted in December 2025, identifies 14 serious flaws in the quality of human resources, equipment, and oversight carried out by the PSP at Lisbon Airport, reports Correio da Manhã (paid access) this Thursday. Portugal has until the end of the year to resolve the issues in what is considered by...
We are all in a rush: road accident data shows that a third of road deaths and 64% of traffic offences are caused by speeding. We are constantly distracted by our phones, multitasking in meetings, and unable to focus on a single task. This lack of presence is particularly visible in airports, such as Lisbon, where long queues and stress lead to a breakdown in social behaviour. As José Saramago described in 'Blindness', it is in times of crisis that people's true character is revealed. Unfortunately, we are seeing lower tolerance, increased aggression, and a decline in basic manners, all in the name of a senseless rush. Despite the global anxieties of war and economic pressure, it is precisely now that we must cultivate empathy, generosity, and good manners to remain united and continue to evolve as a society.
The European Entry/Exit System is now operating at 100% across the EU. In Portugal, the phased implementation worsened waiting times, particularly at Lisbon airport, where contingency measures were adopted.
The new European border control system for non-EU citizens comes fully into force across the European Union today, following a phased implementation period that saw constraints in Portugal, mainly at Lisbon airport.
The airline announces an increase in the number of flights and an increase in capacity at certain times based on demand. This measure will remain in place as long as necessary.
The baggage claim area also experienced significant delays.
