For some people, Palma Son Sant Joan Airport has become their home. They have found spaces in transit areas where they try to go unnoticed. But that's difficult at such a busy airport. At night, though, the airport is mostly quiet. It allows for some hours of unmolested sleep.
One of the homeless people says that the airport is safe. In winter it's warm, in summer it's cool. They don't bother anyone and normally no one bothers them. But there are the occasional tourists who make a point of disturbing them.
Bins and restaurant leftovers provide food. The bathrooms allow them to wash themselves. There are sockets for charging phones. Their presence has become familiar to airport staff, including security. No attempt is made to move them on, unless they cause trouble, but this is very rarely the case.
One says that he could never have expected things to have come to this. But they have. And so a small group of homeless people share their lives under one roof - that of the airport.
Personally I finf intimidating especially if you decide to use the toilets as you approach the escalators to the car park.
This is certainly not a safe environment for single women returning to their cars on late night or early morning flights
The sad as it is this is not a solution, this is an airport, and Aena the owners need to deal with this, especially since they've just received €160 million euro from the EU to upgrade the airport
Interesting to read this article not sure really what it is meant to communicate to people but it´s OK , I spend a fair amount of time coming and going through the airport I believe the airport is owned privately and is a money making concern anyone who actively disturbs these people passing through tough time´s they should be prosecuted for that what should happen is that info should be gathered and these people need to be taken care of from a health perspective there are very generous people who would donate to help them , we are going through a strange time and we need to be considerate .
Bravo for this non-judgemental report. It gently and accurately describes how those of us who are privileged to pass through Palma’s airport can rub-along with those who are less fortunate.
6 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Zoltan TeglasThe Mayor of Palma has almost no say with what happens in the airport, or the sea port. They are ruled by Central Goverment.
I pay my £13 airport taxes when I fly into Palma, these people don't, so they are stealing and using up limited resources. Lock them up.
Personally I finf intimidating especially if you decide to use the toilets as you approach the escalators to the car park. This is certainly not a safe environment for single women returning to their cars on late night or early morning flights The sad as it is this is not a solution, this is an airport, and Aena the owners need to deal with this, especially since they've just received €160 million euro from the EU to upgrade the airport
Interesting to read this article not sure really what it is meant to communicate to people but it´s OK , I spend a fair amount of time coming and going through the airport I believe the airport is owned privately and is a money making concern anyone who actively disturbs these people passing through tough time´s they should be prosecuted for that what should happen is that info should be gathered and these people need to be taken care of from a health perspective there are very generous people who would donate to help them , we are going through a strange time and we need to be considerate .
Hopefully the mayor of Palma isn't aware of this as he'd have them kicked out to freeze on the streets.
Bravo for this non-judgemental report. It gently and accurately describes how those of us who are privileged to pass through Palma’s airport can rub-along with those who are less fortunate.