Latest news and stories about airport delays in travel in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
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.
In this edition, we show how the system that will issue the new national identity card for Brazilians abroad works. We discuss the lack of interest from Brazilians in cultural investments to receive a golden visa, and the queues at Lisbon airport due to the new passenger control system. We also cover the full agenda that Lula will discuss with heads of government and state in Portugal, and a trip to the tile museum in Estremoz, which will inspire the implementation of a similar museum in São Luís, Maranhão. The DN Brazil Radar airs every Friday at 8 am on the DN Brazil YouTube and Spotify channels, with a weekly summary and everything that interests Brazilians in Portugal. DN Brazil is a section of Diário de Notícias dedicated to the Brazilian community living in or planning to live in Portugal. The texts are written in Brazilian Portuguese. Watch the DN Brazil Radar from Friday, April 10: 'As citizens, we have to know how to proceed,' says a Brazilian during a tsunami alert test in Lisbon.
Airports Council International warns that the situation - which was already serious in Lisbon - will worsen in the peak season months
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.
The new digital system at national airports continues to cause problems. In recent days, dozens of passengers have missed flights due to failures in the kiosks of the new entry and exit system for the Schengen area, which are unable to handle the high number of users. There are reports of malfunctions and delays at border control, and the PSP confirms that, at times, the collection of biometric data is even being suspended.
The official stressed that departure checks are being carried out safely, following the usual model and complying with established protocols, but without biometric data collection.
The collection of biometrics at departures in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports was suspended again today due to excessive waiting times for passengers to board, a PSP spokesperson told Lusa.
Biometric data collection at departures in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports was suspended again this Sunday, April 12, due to excessive waiting times for passengers. PSP spokesperson Superintendent Sérgio Soares stated that the measure aims to prevent passengers from missing flights while maintaining border security. The suspension affects the Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated EU system that records biometric data for non-EU citizens, which has caused significant delays since its full implementation on Friday.
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.
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 waiting time at border control at Lisbon airport reached a peak of two hours today for those who arrived around 08:30, but has since decreased to less than an hour, according to the PSP and ANA.
Waiting times at Lisbon Airport's border control peaked at two hours for arrivals around 08:30 on Sunday, March 29, but have since decreased to under an hour, according to the PSP and ANA. Officials confirmed that all available border control posts were fully staffed as part of the Easter contingency plan, which includes additional police reinforcements and a new border control zone. The Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU citizens, which had been temporarily suspended due to previous delays, is now fully operational again.
The peak occurred around 8:30 am at Lisbon airport, according to ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal. It added that the waiting time is now under an hour.
The wait at border control at Lisbon airport reached a peak of two hours this Sunday for those who arrived around 08:30, but has since decreased to less than an hour, according to the PSP and ANA. Contacted by the Lusa agency following reports from passengers indicating they had arrived in Lisbon around 06:00...
The peak occurred around 8:30 am
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.
The European border control system for non-EU citizens, which was suspended in December at Lisbon airport after ‘an outcry’ over queues that built up, is once again operational, the government The post EU border control system back on track at Lisbon airport appeared first on Portugal Resident.
At the end of December, the Government announced contingency measures at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon to reduce waiting times in the arrivals area, namely the three-month suspension of the EES, which has now returned to full operation.
Portugal has introduced a new European mobile app, “Travel to Europe,” aimed at reducing border control queues at Lisbon airport. The app allows travelers from third countries to pre-register their personal and travel information up to 72 hours before arrival, helping to expedite border checks. Initially available only at Lisbon, the system is part of efforts to address delays caused by the European Entry/Exit System (EES), which faced processing issues. Despite the app being optional, it aims to streamline in-person border procedures. Recent assessments highlighted serious deficiencies in Lisbon's border security, prompting urgent measures including a temporary suspension of the EES and increased security personnel to manage queues and improve control.
