The Canary Islands Hotel and Tourism Association (Ashotel) issued a blistering statement on 4 February 2026 after holiday-makers faced hour-long passport queues at Tenerife Sur Airport for the third consecutive weekend. The lobby blames a combination of understaffed National Police booths and technical glitches in the automated-border gates supplied for the EU’s upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES).
Ashotel president Jorge Marichal called on the Canary government to fine airport operator Aena and press the Interior Ministry for reinforcements, arguing that “systemic mistreatment” of arriving tourists threatens the archipelago’s image at the height of winter peak season. He notes that 46 % of Tenerife’s visitors originate from non-Schengen markets—mainly the UK—making efficient border processing critical.
![Tourism Body Slams Passport-Control Queues at Tenerife Sur Airport]()
Travellers and corporate mobility planners can also tap VisaHQ’s expertise for real-time visa and passport guidance; the company’s platform (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) streamlines document checks, appointment scheduling, and fast-track options for Spain and the Canary Islands, reducing the chances of unexpected delays at border control.
Aena responded that staffing allocations meet contractual norms and that last weekend’s backlog was exacerbated by unusually clustered charter arrivals. The Interior Ministry said additional officers would be seconded from Las Palmas ahead of Carnival week and that biometric gates are being recalibrated.
For tour operators and mobility managers the incident serves as a warning: allow extra connection times and advise travellers—especially families—to use manual booths if e-gates appear slow. Companies relocating staff to the Canaries for winter projects should consider VIP-Fast-Track services until EES equipment is fully operational.
Ashotel president Jorge Marichal called on the Canary government to fine airport operator Aena and press the Interior Ministry for reinforcements, arguing that “systemic mistreatment” of arriving tourists threatens the archipelago’s image at the height of winter peak season. He notes that 46 % of Tenerife’s visitors originate from non-Schengen markets—mainly the UK—making efficient border processing critical.
Travellers and corporate mobility planners can also tap VisaHQ’s expertise for real-time visa and passport guidance; the company’s platform (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) streamlines document checks, appointment scheduling, and fast-track options for Spain and the Canary Islands, reducing the chances of unexpected delays at border control.
Aena responded that staffing allocations meet contractual norms and that last weekend’s backlog was exacerbated by unusually clustered charter arrivals. The Interior Ministry said additional officers would be seconded from Las Palmas ahead of Carnival week and that biometric gates are being recalibrated.
For tour operators and mobility managers the incident serves as a warning: allow extra connection times and advise travellers—especially families—to use manual booths if e-gates appear slow. Companies relocating staff to the Canaries for winter projects should consider VIP-Fast-Track services until EES equipment is fully operational.
