Latest news and stories about airport delays in infrastructure in Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
The Ministry of Internal Administration has admitted to IT constraints affecting border control operations at Lisbon airport. While officials acknowledge that some passenger data is not being collected, they maintain that these technical issues do not pose a security risk to the country.
Biometric data collection for departures at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports was suspended on Saturday morning, April 11, to prevent passengers from missing flights due to long queues, according to the PSP. The process resumed in the early afternoon. PSP spokesperson Sérgio Soares confirmed that biometric collection is now operating at 100% for both departures and arrivals. The suspension was a contingency measure to manage high passenger volumes and avoid excessive wait times. The Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated EU system replacing passport stamps with digital biometric registration for non-EU citizens, has been fully operational since Friday, following a phased rollout that began in October 2025.
Update: Biometric collection suspended again at major airports
Biometric data collection for departures at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports was suspended again this Sunday, April 12, due to excessive waiting times. The PSP stated the measure aims to prevent passengers from missing flights while maintaining border security as high numbers of travelers exit the Schengen Area.
The PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) is Portugal's national civilian police force, founded in 1867. Responsible for defending Republican democracy and safeguarding internal security and citizens' rights, the PSP polices major cities—Lisbon, Porto, Faro—and large urban areas, covering only 4% of Portugal's territory but roughly half the population. Led by a National Director under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, its approximately 21,500 officers handle preventive policing, crime investigation, public order, airport security, diplomatic protection, private security regulation, firearms licensing, and border control (since 2023).
PSP vs. GNR: The PSP is civilian with police-focused training and urban jurisdiction, while the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) is military (gendarmerie) with military training, covering 96% of Portugal's rural and suburban territory. Both share core public safety missions but differ fundamentally in nature, training, and geographic responsibility.
The Entry-Exit System (Sistema de Entrada e Saída) is an EU border-register that records biometric data (fingerprints and a facial image) and travel details for short-stay non‑EU travellers, replacing passport stamping and creating a searchable entry/exit record. According to recent reporting, the new rules now require over a third of non‑EU nationals entering Schengen to provide this extra data at the border; the aim is to improve security and migration tracking, but travellers should be prepared to submit biometrics at kiosks or border control and ensure their travel documents are valid. For expats and visitors this usually means slightly longer checks on arrival/departure and more robust digital records of your travel history.
A new European border control system for non-EU citizens has officially come into force across the European Union. The system, which utilizes biometric data, follows a phased implementation period that previously caused processing constraints at Lisbon airport.
Wait times at Lisbon's Aeroporto Humberto Delgado reached two hours on Sunday morning during a peak in arrivals. The Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) reported that all border control posts were staffed as part of an Easter contingency plan, which includes 30 extra agents in Lisbon. Airport manager ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal confirmed that while waits hit 120 minutes at 08:30, they have since dropped to under an hour.
The PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) is Portugal's national civilian police force, founded in 1867. Responsible for defending Republican democracy and safeguarding internal security and citizens' rights, the PSP polices major cities—Lisbon, Porto, Faro—and large urban areas, covering only 4% of Portugal's territory but roughly half the population. Led by a National Director under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, its approximately 21,500 officers handle preventive policing, crime investigation, public order, airport security, diplomatic protection, private security regulation, firearms licensing, and border control (since 2023).
PSP vs. GNR: The PSP is civilian with police-focused training and urban jurisdiction, while the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) is military (gendarmerie) with military training, covering 96% of Portugal's rural and suburban territory. Both share core public safety missions but differ fundamentally in nature, training, and geographic responsibility.
ANA (ANA Aeroportos de Portugal) is the company that manages Portugal's main airports, including Lisbon Humberto Delgado, Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro, Faro, and airports in the Azores and Madeira. Since 2013, ANA has been owned by the French group Vinci Airports following privatization.
ANA is responsible for airport operations, terminal management, and infrastructure investment across its network. The company has been at the center of Portugal's long-running debate over a new Lisbon airport, with plans for a new facility to relieve capacity constraints at the current airport, which is located in the city center.
Passenger traffic at Portuguese airports has grown significantly, with Lisbon consistently ranking among Europe's fastest-growing airports. ANA's investment decisions and concession terms directly affect flight capacity, passenger experience, and connectivity for residents and tourists.
New border control systems are causing significant delays at major Portuguese airports, prompting political scrutiny over resource shortages, particularly in Ponta Delgada.
Biometric data collection at major Portuguese airports has been suspended again due to excessive passenger wait times, with authorities implementing an automatic suspension protocol when queues exceed reference limits.
The AirAdvisor ranking is led by Manchester airport, with a delay rate of 6.16%. In Porto, it is 5.31%. Lisbon has the highest delay rate, but shorter waiting times.
Airports Council International warns that the situation - which was already serious in Lisbon - will worsen in the peak season months
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 new electronic border system in Portugal has faced queues, with the Public Security Police (PSP) monitoring the situation closely. Superintendent Sérgio Soares explained that when wait times exceed 40 minutes, officers temporarily stop collecting photos and fingerprints to prevent excessive delays, though the system remains active. Similar issues have been reported across several European airports, including in Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands, leading to missed flights. Airlines are not held responsible for these delays, leaving passengers to file complaints with airport authorities or the Civil Aviation Authority.
On Saturday, the collection of biometric data had already been suspended during the morning to prevent passengers from missing their flights due to long queues.
According to the statement from ANA - Portugal, “today, during the morning period, there were very long wait times at the Lisbon airport border control for both departures and arrivals.”
The collection of biometric data at departures in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports was suspended this morning to prevent passengers from missing their flights due to long queues, according to the PSP. “Given the high waiting times at the airports of Faro, Porto, and Lisbon, namely Gago Coutinho Airport, Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport...”, the police stated.
The measure was taken due to long waiting times, the PSP reports.
The European Union's new border control system—the European Entry/Exit System—which became fully operational on Friday (10/04), has caused massive queues at the airport.
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.
Lisbon Airport faces a critical test this Easter weekend as authorities implement a contingency plan to manage border control, following recent reports of long queues and chaos for passengers arriving from outside the Schengen Area. The Ministry of Internal Administration has reinforced staff and introduced self-service kiosks to support the gradual rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES), though unions argue that the airport's infrastructure remains structurally inadequate to handle the current volume of non-EU travellers.
Those departing from Lisbon waited an average of 30 minutes. PSP personnel are at maximum capacity during a period of high traffic.
After the European system was reactivated at Lisbon Airport, reports of prolonged wait times continue at certain times of the day for queues outside the Schengen area.
The contingency plan currently in force provides for a reinforcement of 30 police officers with border guard training at the airport.
Home News Long queues return to Portugal Airports Long queues return to Portugal Airports Travellers from around the world are once again facing long lines at immigration in Portugal, especially at Lisbon Airport. The PSP says security comes first.
Passengers from various parts of the world have once again faced long queues in Portugal's immigration areas, especially at Lisbon Airport. The PSP states that security is a priority.
