Latest news and stories about travel delays in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
A CNN Portugal analysis reveals that only 2.7% of trains between Lisbon and Porto arrived on time during a one-week period, with an average delay of 20 minutes per journey.
Lisbon Airport is bracing for a surge in non-Schengen passenger traffic, putting its new border control system to the test during the upcoming peak travel season.
The Prime Minister visited Lisbon Airport to assess preparations for the full implementation of the EES system. He acknowledges challenges but guarantees positive progress regarding queues.
The Lisbon airport border was temporarily closed this Tuesday, July 28, after passengers from a flight arriving from Brazil disembarked in the wrong area, causing a mix of passengers, the PSP confirmed. In a response sent to Lusa, the PSP indicated that the incident involved passengers arriving in Portugal from Salvador, Brazil, who were directed to a boarding gate, causing 'a mix of passengers from a third country, not subjected to screening according to the requirements applicable in the European Union, with passengers already screened who were in the critical area of the restricted security zone'. Since the area in Terminal 1 had been contaminated, its evacuation was ordered and all passengers had to be re-screened, including those who were already inside planes and had passed through the jet bridges connected to the affected area. 'The border remained temporarily closed until the completion of the evacuation, security verification, and cleaning of the contaminated area, with operations resuming after security conditions were once again ensured,' the PSP added.
The Minister of Infrastructure credited Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves for improvements in border control at Lisbon Airport, which had previously been described as a national embarrassment. Pinto Luz noted that waiting times have been halved due to the work of various teams and Neves' leadership. The improvements follow challenges with the implementation of the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES). The minister also highlighted significant passenger growth across national airports and defended the government's transparency regarding new infrastructure investments.
Airlines warned in parliament today that congestion at Lisbon airport increases the risk of administrative offences, noting that about 30% of delays and cancellations are caused by airports or air navigation.
The European Commission has confirmed that Portugal may partially suspend the collection of biometric data at airports during peak periods to ensure passenger flow, a measure permitted under EU law until September. The Portuguese government reported a 50% reduction in border control waiting times at Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport following an increase in staff and technical resources. Brussels maintains that the recent congestion issues are not related to the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES).
Border control at Humberto Delgado Airport has had more human and physical resources since this morning. The expansion of the border area has been inaugurated. The work will allow for an increase in the number of electronic entry gates and PSP counters.
The Mayor of Lisbon says it is necessary to act now to avoid a scenario of chaos in the coming weeks. Statements made by Carlos Moedas on the sidelines of the anniversary celebrations of the Sapadores Firefighters in Lisbon.
Lisbon Airport will have more manual border control booths starting May 29 to strengthen operational response and reduce waiting times, the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) announced today.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing stated this Monday in Coimbra that there will be improvements to the service at Lisbon airport next month, with the completion of expansion works in the arrivals area. When questioned about the delays recorded at border control in Portuguese airports, Miguel Pinto Luz stated that the Government “is...”,
The Irish airline uses satirical images on social media to denounce queues of over two and a half hours at passport control at Lisbon Airport and calls for the suspension of the new system.
Expansion works on the problematic border area at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon are being completed, with the inauguration scheduled for May 29, Expresso has learned. This is good news, but it does not diminish concerns over the queues that have lengthened again since April 10, when the European Entry/Exit System for border control returned to full operation. These images were captured on Friday morning.
The new system became operational on October 12 in Portugal and the remaining Schengen area countries.
In Portugal, since the entry into force of this new system, waiting times have worsened, especially at Lisbon airport.
As of 11:15 am this Monday, the maximum wait time at arrivals was 38 minutes and only two minutes at departures, according to a PSP source, following wait times of around two hours on Sunday.
On Sunday, waiting times reached two hours for those arriving in the Portuguese capital.
Home News Lisbon airport registered peak in queues waiting times Lisbon airport registered peak in queues waiting times The waiting time at border control at Lisbon airport reached a peak of 2 hours on 29 March for those arriving at 8:30 am, but has since decreased to less than an hour, according
Passengers flying into Lisbon this morning discovered a backlog at passport/ border control, in spite of the fact that every available booth was ‘manned’ by PSP agents. According to anecdotal The post Lisbon airport queue misery returns appeared first on Portugal Resident.
PSP and ANA acknowledge constraints at Humberto Delgado Airport. Reinforcement of resources did not prevent long queues at an infrastructure already under pressure.
Contingency plan starts on Monday and includes 10 new manual posts and e-gates in Lisbon. During Easter week, 75,000 passengers per day are expected. The PSP is trying to avoid the chaos seen at Christmas and New Year.
The European border control system for non-EU citizens, which was suspended in December at Lisbon airport due to constraints in the arrivals area, is operational again and has been gradually resumed, the Government revealed today.
The European border control system for non-EU citizens, which was suspended in December at Lisbon airport due to constraints in the arrivals area, is operational again and has been gradually resumed, the Government revealed this Friday. In a response sent to the Lusa agency, the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) states that the European system...
The official stated that the causes are known and being assessed for solutions, expressing hope that the issues will be resolved by summer.
The Secretary of State for Infrastructure assured on Wednesday that the Government is closely monitoring the queues at Lisbon airport, admitting they are an embarrassment for the Government, which hopes to resolve the issue by summer. “The situation at the borders is an embarrassment for the Government. It has no other name. We need to...”
