Tenerife South Airport Holds Emergency Meeting Over Overcrowding Crisis

Key Takeaways

• On May 26, 2025, over 500 passengers faced dangerous overcrowding at Tenerife South Airport passport control.
• Only two manual booths operated amid Brexit requiring full checks for British travelers, causing long delays.
• Authorities demand more border police, open booths, and infrastructure upgrades before the busy summer season.

Tenerife South Airport Faces Emergency Meeting After Overcrowding Crisis

Tenerife South Airport, also known as Aeropuerto de Tenerife Sur (TFS), has become the center of a major crisis after severe overcrowding at passport control led to dangerous and chaotic conditions for passengers. The situation reached a breaking point on Monday, May 26, 2025, when more than 500 travelers—most of them British holidaymakers—were trapped for over two hours in hot, cramped spaces at the airport’s border control area. This incident has sparked an emergency meeting among top local officials and has drawn widespread attention to the urgent need for changes at one of Spain’s busiest airports.

What Happened at Tenerife South Airport?

On May 26, 2025, Tenerife South Airport experienced a surge in arrivals, with several flights from the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 landing within a short period. Passengers reported waiting up to 45 minutes on the plane before being allowed to enter the terminal. Once inside, they faced long, slow-moving lines at passport control. Only two manual passport booths were open, and the automated gates could not be used by children, making the process even slower for families.

The overcrowding quickly became dangerous. With more than 500 people packed into a poorly ventilated area, families had to lift children onto their shoulders to prevent them from being crushed or suffocated. Many passengers described the environment as “inhumane” and “claustrophobic.” There was no access to toilets, and the heat made the situation even worse. The distress was visible, with elderly travelers and young children especially affected.

Why Did This Happen?

Several factors combined to create this crisis at Tenerife South Airport:

• Surging Passenger Numbers: In 2024, the airport handled 13,740,411 passengers, an 11.4% increase from the previous year. Some days see over 100 flight arrivals, with an average of 220 passengers per plane—meaning more than 22,000 people can arrive in a single day.
• Brexit-Related Checks: Since the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 left the European Union, British travelers now require full manual passport checks when entering Spain 🇪🇸. This has increased the workload for border police and slowed down the entry process.
• Staffing Shortages: Despite repeated warnings from local officials, there has not been enough border police assigned to the airport. On the day of the incident, only two passport control booths were open, far too few to handle the volume of arrivals.
• Limited Use of Automated Gates: Automated passport control systems, which can speed up the process, are not available for children. This forces families to use the slower manual booths, adding to the bottleneck.

Emergency Meeting Called by Local Leaders

In response to the crisis, Rosa Dávila, President of the Tenerife Cabildo (the island’s government), and Lope Afonso, the Tourism Minister, called an emergency meeting this week. They demanded urgent action from both the Spanish central government and AENA, the company that operates the airport. The meeting focused on the need for:

• Immediate deployment of more border police
• Opening additional passport control booths
• Upgrading automated systems to better serve families and children
• Long-term improvements to airport infrastructure

Rosa Dávila called the situation “unacceptable” and blamed it on a “long-standing failure to provide enough border control staff since the UK’s exit from the EU.” She has sent several letters to Spain’s Interior Minister, but so far, there has been little response. Lope Afonso warned that these incidents are damaging Tenerife’s reputation as a tourist destination and called for “immediate solutions” to avoid further chaos during the busy summer season.

No Immediate Policy Changes—But Pressure Is Mounting

As of May 30, 2025, the Tenerife Cabildo is still waiting for a formal response from the Spanish government and AENA. Despite repeated warnings and previous requests for more staff and better facilities, there has not yet been a clear commitment to fix the problems at passport control.

Local authorities and tourism leaders are continuing to push for urgent solutions, especially with the peak summer travel season just around the corner. They warn that if nothing changes, the airport could face even worse overcrowding and safety risks in the coming months.

What Passengers Are Experiencing: A Step-by-Step Look

To understand the real impact of these problems, it’s important to look at what passengers go through when arriving at Tenerife South Airport:

1. Arrival: Multiple flights from the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 land within minutes of each other, bringing hundreds of passengers at once.
2. Disembarkation Delays: Passengers sometimes wait up to 45 minutes on the plane before being allowed to enter the terminal, as the airport tries to manage the flow of people.
3. Passport Control: Only a few manual passport booths are open. Automated gates, which could speed things up, cannot be used by children, so families must wait in the longer lines.
4. Queueing: Passengers stand in line for over two hours in overcrowded, poorly ventilated spaces. There is no access to toilets, and the heat makes the wait even more uncomfortable.
5. Distress: Families lift children onto their shoulders to prevent them from being crushed. Elderly passengers and young children show visible signs of distress, and many people describe the experience as frightening and unsafe.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Who Is Affected and How?

Local Government:
The Tenerife Cabildo and other local officials are demanding urgent intervention from the Spanish government. They argue that the island’s needs have been ignored for too long and that the current situation is putting both passengers and the island’s tourism industry at risk.

Tourism Sector:
Tourism leaders are alarmed by the negative impact on visitor experience and the island’s reputation. They warn that if these problems continue, tourists may choose other destinations with smoother entry processes, hurting the local economy.

Passengers:
Travelers, especially families and elderly people, have expressed outrage and distress over the unsafe and uncomfortable conditions. Many have shared their experiences on social media and with the press, describing the situation as “inhumane.”

AENA (Airport Operator):
AENA has not issued a detailed public response to the latest crisis but is facing growing criticism from local authorities and business leaders for failing to adapt to increased demand.

Spanish Central Government:
The central government is being accused of neglecting the island’s needs and failing to provide enough resources to handle the increased number of arrivals, especially after Brexit.

Background: How Did Tenerife South Airport Get Here?

Tenerife South Airport has seen steady growth in passenger numbers, especially since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the United Kingdom’s 🇬🇧 exit from the European Union. In 2024, the airport handled nearly 14 million passengers, with a record 7.9 million scheduled seats during the winter season alone.

The impact of Brexit has been especially significant. Before Brexit, British travelers could use faster, automated passport checks as EU citizens. Now, they must go through full manual checks, which take more time and require more staff. Despite repeated warnings from local officials about the risk of chaos without increased staffing and better infrastructure, little has changed.

Quantitative Data: The Numbers Behind the Crisis

• 2024 Passenger Numbers: 13,740,411 (11.4% increase from 2023)
• Winter Season (Oct 2024–Mar 2025): 7.9 million scheduled seats (6.5% year-on-year increase)
• Incident on May 26, 2025: Over 500 passengers trapped for more than two hours; only two passport control booths open
• Flight Arrivals: Over 100 flights per day, averaging 220 passengers per plane (more than 22,000 arrivals in a single day)

Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that these numbers highlight a structural problem at Tenerife South Airport, with passenger growth far outpacing the resources available for border control and passenger processing.

Policy Implications and Practical Effects

The chaos at passport control is having several serious effects:

• Tourism Impact: Tenerife’s image as a quality tourist destination is being damaged, with direct economic consequences for the island’s tourism-dependent economy.
• Passenger Experience: Families, elderly passengers, and children are being subjected to unsafe, uncomfortable conditions, including lack of access to toilets and ventilation.
• Operational Strain: The inability to use automated passport control systems for children and the lack of sufficient border police have created bottlenecks, especially during peak arrival times.

Experts warn that continued operational failures could drive tourists to other destinations with smoother entry processes, further harming Tenerife’s economy.

What Are the Demands and Next Steps?

Stakeholders are calling for several immediate and long-term measures to address the crisis:

• Immediate deployment of additional border police
• Opening more passport control booths, especially during peak arrival times
• Upgrading automated systems to accommodate families and children
• Long-term improvements to airport infrastructure, including better ventilation and more space in the passport control area

The Tenerife Cabildo and tourism authorities are awaiting a formal response from the Spanish government and AENA regarding these demands. With the busy summer season approaching, there is urgent pressure to resolve these issues to avoid further incidents.

What Can Passengers Do?

If you are planning to travel through Tenerife South Airport in the coming months, here are some practical tips:

• Arrive Early: Be prepared for possible delays at passport control, especially if you are traveling with children or elderly family members.
• Stay Informed: Check the official Tenerife South Airport website for updates on airport operations and any changes to entry procedures.
• Report Problems: If you experience unsafe or inhumane conditions, report them to airport staff and local authorities. Your feedback can help push for needed changes.
• Know Your Rights: Travelers have the right to safe and humane treatment at border control. If you feel your rights have been violated, you can contact the Spanish Ombudsman or your country’s consulate for assistance.

Summary Table: Key Facts

Official Resources and Contact Information

• Tenerife South Airport (AENA): Official website
• Tenerife Cabildo: cabildodetenerife.es
• Emergency Services in Spain: Dial 112 for emergencies
• Spain Travel Advice: travel.gc.ca/destinations/spain

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Tenerife South Airport?

The crisis at Tenerife South Airport is not just a one-time event—it is the result of years of growth, changing travel rules after Brexit, and a lack of investment in border control staff and infrastructure. With the peak summer season about to begin, the pressure is on for the Spanish government and AENA to act quickly.

If immediate steps are not taken to increase staffing and improve facilities, there is a real risk of further chaos and damage to Tenerife’s reputation as a top tourist destination. Local leaders, tourism experts, and passengers are all calling for urgent action. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Tenerife South Airport can overcome these challenges and provide a safe, welcoming experience for all travelers.

For more information on travel requirements and airport updates, visit the official AENA Tenerife South Airport page.

As the situation develops, travelers, local businesses, and government officials will be watching closely to see if the urgent calls for help are finally answered.

Learn Today

Brexit → The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, affecting border and travel policies.
AENA → The Spanish public company managing airports, including Tenerife South Airport operations.
Passport Control → Border checkpoint where travel documents are verified before entry into a country.
Automated Gates → Electronic passport control systems that speed up entry for eligible travelers.
Cabildo → Local governing body of Tenerife responsible for island administration and public services.

This Article in a Nutshell

Tenerife South Airport faced severe overcrowding on May 26, 2025, causing dangerous delays. Brexit checks and staffing shortages worsened chaos. Authorities call for urgent action as the peak tourist season approaches to protect travelers and the island’s tourism reputation.
— By VisaVerge.com