Spanish airports told to ‘ease the pain’ for British visitors as EES queues grow

With the summer season only weeks away, the Balearic-based Majorca Daily Bulletin reports that Aena has issued a second, operational-level circular instructing frontline staff to activate contingency plans whenever waiting times in biometric lines exceed 25 minutes. Measures include opening extra manual booths, using VIP channels for families and travellers with reduced mobility, and asking airlines to adjust slot times. Although the directive stops short of suspending the EES—something Greece tried for 48 hours at Thessaloniki—industry bodies such as ABTA warn that Spain must show the system can work at scale or risk reputational damage with one of its largest tourism markets. Airports Council International data show that the three Balearic airports handled 17 million British passengers in 2025; even marginal delays could ripple through hotel check-in times and coach transfers, adding cost for tour operators.