The Minister of the Interior of Spain, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has responded to criticism about long lines at passport control in Tenerife South Airport, describing them as “isolated incidents.” He emphasised that the number of staff assigned to documentation checks has been increased by 40% in recent months.
Parliamentary Questioning
The issue was raised in Congress by Cristina Valido, MP for Coalición Canaria, who asked what measures the government intends to implement to prevent a repeat of “regrettable queues” ahead of the October high season, when a surge of British tourists is expected.
Valido stressed that these bottlenecks are not unique to Tenerife South but are also occurring in Fuerteventura, and that they have been reported not only in high season.
“I asked about this back in December, and the minister told me staff numbers were being increased and that Aena was coordinating to avoid peak overlaps between flights. If that is the case, the measures clearly aren’t working,” Valido argued.
She criticised the fact that the British press has picked up the story, publishing headlines about “airport chaos”, which risks damaging the Canary Islands’ image in one of its most important tourism markets.
Calls for Regional Airport Management
Valido also linked the issue to broader discussions on airport management transfers. She noted that while Catalonia and the Basque Country are negotiating shared control of their airports with Madrid, the Canary Islands’ Statute of Autonomy also provides for a similar possibility.
She expressed disappointment that these problems are happening under a government in which the Interior Minister himself is from the Canary Islands.
Marlaska’s Response
Grande-Marlaska acknowledged that tourists from third countries require more rigorous passport checks, which contributes to occasional congestion.
However, he insisted that staffing levels have risen significantly: “We have increased staff by 40%.”
He admitted that there may be “small delays” caused by the timing of airline arrivals and departures, but described these as isolated cases, not systemic failures.
“This is not complacency,” he stressed. “We are working with Aena and the airlines to minimise bottlenecks. Tourism is essential to our economy, and we are committed to ensuring smooth operations.”
The minister also pointed out that the Interior Ministry has boosted technical resources, including the installation of automated passport control booths, and that further improvements will continue.
While Marlaska downplays the queues at Tenerife South as minor and exceptional, opposition voices argue that they are recurring and structural, damaging the Canary Islands’ international image. With the British press highlighting “chaos” at airports and the winter high season looming, the debate underscores wider concerns over airport management and tourism infrastructure in the archipelago.
