The tour operators are wanting an increase in the number of National Police officers in order to speed up passport control and thereby avoid problems for coaches that are waiting for tourists to be transferred to hotels. The coaches are parked for longer than they should be, and this is creating some chaos in the arrivals area parking zone.
The complaints are directed at the Spanish government delegation in the Balearics, as this is the body which has responsibility for provision of police. "We hope that they will take the appropriate measures to expedite passport control," says one tour operator representative.
On Sunday, when the volume of traffic is lower, it is nevertheless of significant enough volume to cause problems in the arrivals area. 832 planes and some 150,000 passengers are scheduled for this Sunday, with the peak time being between 10am and 12.30pm. Around 300 vehicles - coaches, minibuses, taxis - will be in the arrivals area over this period.
The Aena airports authority is to establish a special procedure to mitigate the problems that occur at the airport at weekends.
The queues for passport control are really nothing new, and travellers' experiences of passport control will vary according to when they arrive. There are peak times when several arriving flights coincide, and it is this which tends to cause the queues.
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The travel companies giving a gentle nudge to take action early in the season. Articles in numerous U.K. press outlets about Palma airports chaos this morning. MDB articles about bankruptcy risks to Mallorca businesses. This type of delay interruption piles costs on the service business taxis busses etc. taxis can’t supply high volume irregular demands and maximise income. Buses are likely on fixed price contract paying overtime on delays and longer days parked up in bus parks . Margins squeeze jobs lost. Personally I have given up on my much looked forward spring visit and booked a extended November break to the colony club in Barbados. I will wait and see if things improve in Majorca and hopefully visit mid September . Places that I use like the Villa Italia seem to have closed so the attraction is no longer there. The mid spender Brits have a world of options to visit if Majorca cannot be bothered to welcome them at the cost of a few extra staff at the airport then the romance of Majorca and Brits May be broken. I sincerely hope not. Portugal have put themselves to work round European Union regs and they will benefit. Tens of thousands of older couples like ourselves spending say £10k a year will impact those Majorcan businesses. The wider implications of 30% of Majorca tourists declining may be welcome by some on the island. But many depend on that trade. Many of whom are good people who I consider friends.
The past 3 Saturdays I've either arrived or had friends arrive in Palma Airport, at different times ... No one has experienced any delay or and issues with getting through the airport. Staff have been there to ensure smooth passage and stepped into deal with queue jumping. From landing to car park, via baggage and bike box collection I was approx an hour.... I'm sure when I arrive home to Edinburgh I'll be way more than that.
Just think, Brits wouldn't have to get their passports stamped and stand in such long queues if they hadn't allowed themselves to be conned into voting for johnson and his billionaire backers. Oh well, at least you've got the 350 million extra a week for the NHS, right?
I came through Palma Airport recently. There was only ONE man checking and stamping Passports. The other man was just talking. I said more staff were needed. Especially as fully loaded Tourist Aircraft arrive. They ignored me. Airport Services to include Security and Police are a disgrace.