Faro airport passport control chaos - answers demanded by Algarve MP

Paul Rees 21 July 2016

airplane2 An Algarve MP has been asking questions about the long queues that have become the norm at Faro airport for travellers entering the country.

Teresa Caeiro, a CDS-PP member of parliament has asked the Minister of Planning and Infrastructure about recent local press reports of long delays at passport control, especially on Sundays which is the busiest day of the week.

The MP points out that the Algarve is one of Europe's top tourist destinations and Faro Airport has been trying to cater for an increasing number of passengers this year, not always successfully.

The MP said that although the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) has an increased number of staff on duty this summer, the six passport control points, even when fully manned, are unable to cater for big passenger numbers and many people have had to wait in airport coaches as they can not physically get into the terminal building.

The Algarve Resident (July 14th, 2016) ran a front page picture and two page story outlining the overcrowding problem at faro airport and gave reports of passengers fainting as they waited to go through passport control. While the Resident put the increase in numbers in a positive light - more tourism means more money for the region - the underlying problem has not yet been dealt with.

The MP refers to the "Algarve’s regional press," thus showing that she reads The Resident, and said the that the machines that allow entry to EU digital passport holders do not work well because they were installed as part of a 2004 pilot project, hence are more than 12 years old and work intermittently at best.

Teresa Caeiro is well aware of the ANA expansion work going on at the airport but asks the minister what measures are being implemented immediately to rectify this situation to allow quicker entry through passport control, also asking for an opening date for the new passport control area.

Comments

0 #3 Melvin farrell 2017-08-04 15:57

What is the point of enlarging this airport when they are unable to cope with traffic as it is. I arrived on the 3rd July and we were over 30 minutes getting through passport control. My daughter arrived in April and was more than one and a half hours getting through. We arrived within minutes of three other aircraft. We did not arrive unexpectidly.Why were there not enough staff on duty. It is not good. If this is what is to come I will be looking much closer at airports that can cope. It is bad enough waiting around for flights without all this inconvenience. After all it is us the passengers that pay good money and expect good service. A have red about the Shengen border controls and Britain is being hit with this also. Why when we are still full paying members of the eu not getting the same treatment as the rest of th Eu. Or is this a warning of what to expect when we have left. I think it is and says a lot about there childish attitude. So won't be seeing much of Europe if this is the case. They have more to lose than us.sour grapes.

+2 #2 Name supplied 2016-07-24 19:05

A very timely article. A temporary measure would be to remove the highly
inefficient electronic machines for digital EU passports and replace them
with another 4 or so manual passport control points. All manual control
points should always be manned except when inbound traffic is light.

+2 #1 Michael Mack 2016-07-24 12:58

I certainly do hope that some progress can be made on this passport control debacle. It has been terrible for years now. And yes, the digital scanners frequently do not work. I myself have a digital Irish EU passport, and it never works through the Faro scanners! One morning about a year ago, the queue inside stretched from the security exit right through the central departure complex to passport control. Our flight was held up for 15mins to wait for belated passengers! What a disaster...

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