All travellers to be scrutinised for wedding

By Humphrey Carter PASSENGERS can expect delays at all the Balearics' airports on May 22 as Spain mounts an unprecedented security operation for the royal wedding. Security for the wedding of heir to the throne Prince Felipe and former television news presenter Letizia Ortiz was going to be invariably tight, but it is being strengthened after the terrorist attacks on trains in Madrid which killed 190 people last month. A ring of steel is not just being thrown up around Madrid, where the wedding is taking place, but around Spain. The country will be lifting the Schengen Agreement, which ensures open borders with its European Union partners who signed up to the accord. What that means is that passport controls will be enforced at all entry and exit points. The UK has yet to join the Schengen Agreement hence passengers flying in from the UK to Spain are required to show their passport. However, on May 22, all arriving and departing travellers will have to show their passports. Immigration police, including those at predominantly charter airports such as those in the Balearics, will be closely scrutinising each travel document. The government has said all cars and travellers entering the country will be subject to identity checks and has given warning of long queues expected at entry and exit points. People planning to travel on May 22, are advised to allow extra time for the stringent security checks that will be in place.