Lisbon airport suspends new EU border controls for three months

Lisbon airport has suspended new European Union border controls for non-EU citizens for three months.

The suspension comes after travellers had reported long delays at the Portuguese capital’s airport over recent months.

An announcement from the country’s Ministry of Internal Administration on Tuesday (December 30) said: “The government has decided to suspend, with immediate effect and for three months, the application of the Entry Exit System (EES) computer system and to increase by approximately 30% the capacity of electronic and physical equipment for controlling external borders at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon.

More: Concerns raised as EU Entry Exit System causes three-hour delays at airports

Visit Portugal confident new taskforce will reduce airport queues

“It was also decided to immediately reinforce the human resources operating at the airport, using the certified capacity of the National Republican Guard in border control.

“The decision to temporarily suspend the EES was taken under the relevant European regulations, given the worsening constraints in the ‘arrivals area’ of Lisbon airport with non-European passengers arriving from outside the Schengen Area.”

The airport’s website currently has a warning on its home page which says: “Due to changes in border control, increased waiting times are expected. Please arrive early at the Airport.”

In November, the president of Visit Portugal said he was confident a new taskforce would “dramatically” reduce long queues at Lisbon and Faro airports.

Carlos Abade said the government had pledged to bring in more trained staff and install more electronic booths at border controls after reports of long queues, particularly at Lisbon airport, over recent months.