With the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System scheduled to go live before the summer rush, Spanish airport operator Aena has unveiled plans to create dedicated passport-control lanes for British and other non-EU passengers at Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca airports. The move, reported on Friday, comes after simulations suggested queues could stretch beyond four hours unless flows are separated.
Under the scheme, UK nationals will channel through a single access point to the non-Schengen zone, where additional EES kiosks and staffed booths will capture fingerprints, facial images and exit-records. Aena’s DORA III investment programme commits €1.5 billion to Málaga, €621 million to Palma, €230 million to Ibiza and €170 million to Menorca between 2027 and 2031 for space reconfiguration, new e-gates and expanded baggage halls.
![Spain to open Brit-only EES queues at four holiday airports]()
To help passengers and corporate travel departments stay ahead of the new rules, VisaHQ provides real-time visa and travel document support for Spain, including step-by-step assistance with ETIAS and other post-Brexit requirements (https://www.visahq.com/spain/). Using its online portal, travelers can upload documents for pre-verification and receive alerts if additional paperwork is needed, saving valuable time at the airport.
Airlines are less enthusiastic. Ryanair warned it would cut one million seats on Spanish routes if proposed fee increases proceed, arguing that higher charges will blunt demand already dampened by Brexit paperwork. Industry body IATA, by contrast, says targeted infrastructure spending is essential to keep Spain competitive as Europe’s second-busiest tourist destination.
For corporate travel managers the message is mixed: dedicated lanes should speed up clearance for staff heading to Andalusian factories or Balearic conferences, but ticket prices may edge higher if carriers pass on airport charges. Travellers should be briefed to allow extra time for first-time biometric registration.
Under the scheme, UK nationals will channel through a single access point to the non-Schengen zone, where additional EES kiosks and staffed booths will capture fingerprints, facial images and exit-records. Aena’s DORA III investment programme commits €1.5 billion to Málaga, €621 million to Palma, €230 million to Ibiza and €170 million to Menorca between 2027 and 2031 for space reconfiguration, new e-gates and expanded baggage halls.
To help passengers and corporate travel departments stay ahead of the new rules, VisaHQ provides real-time visa and travel document support for Spain, including step-by-step assistance with ETIAS and other post-Brexit requirements (https://www.visahq.com/spain/). Using its online portal, travelers can upload documents for pre-verification and receive alerts if additional paperwork is needed, saving valuable time at the airport.
Airlines are less enthusiastic. Ryanair warned it would cut one million seats on Spanish routes if proposed fee increases proceed, arguing that higher charges will blunt demand already dampened by Brexit paperwork. Industry body IATA, by contrast, says targeted infrastructure spending is essential to keep Spain competitive as Europe’s second-busiest tourist destination.
For corporate travel managers the message is mixed: dedicated lanes should speed up clearance for staff heading to Andalusian factories or Balearic conferences, but ticket prices may edge higher if carriers pass on airport charges. Travellers should be briefed to allow extra time for first-time biometric registration.
