Spain holiday warning as thousands of passengers miss their flights
THOUSANDS of passengers missed their flights in Spain due to chaos at the airports - with calls for more staff after travellers were forced to queue for hours.
The huge queues at passport control were due to a shortage in staff, and there are fears this could continue into the summer.
As many as 3,000 passengers missed their flights at Madrid Airport over the Easter break due to the long queues, according to local media.
President of the Líneas Aéreas association, Javier Gándara has since called for more National Police officers to be drafted in to check passports, warning this could happen during the summer too.
He said: “There have already been problems at the airports over Easter and we need to avoid this happening in peak season.
“That’s why it’s important that enough police officers are assigned to handle the high numbers of passengers.”
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Holidaymakers complained of the long queues when trying to get to their flight.
One man wrote on Twitter: "Queues of over an hour.
"The passport stamping & the immigration questions for non-EU add to delays."
This is because, since the UK left the EU, Brits now need to have their passport stamped when leaving Europe.
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One woman was even banned from Spain when staff failed to stamp her passport when she left - and authorities thought she then overstayed.
Other airports across Spain have also been hit by huge queues due to a soaring number of British tourists, including Malaga airport where some said they waited "two hours" in the queue.
One person wrote: "Sitting in Malaga airport to return. What a joke! A huge queue for UK passengers stretching all the way back to duty free exit."
Someone else said: "If you know Malaga airport at all you will be astounded to know that the queue for passport control starts JUST AS YOU GET OUT OF DUTY FREE."
A third added: "Was there at end of February and had to start queuing halfway down the shop promenade. Took 45 minutes to get to the gate."
Another new rule Brits may not be aware of when travelling to Spain is being able to prove evidence of having enough cash for the entire stay of the holiday.
All visitors from third countries - which includes the UK since leaving the EU - must be able to prove they have the equivalent of €100 (£75) per day of their stay, so those staying for a two week holiday would need to show available funds of €1,400 (£1,800).
One woman said she saw a passenger in front of her "emptying his wallet" to show he had enough cash to cover his stay.
Thankfully the country is starting to scrap its Covid rules.
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Spain has dropped its rule requiring face masks indoors, 700 days after it was brought in.
And here are some last-minute holidays to Spain from £135pp.
