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In this Friday’s Mirror Daily Digest, we’ve pulled together the biggest stories of the day from jail horror after a prison officer was reportedly stabbed to airport chaos leaving many Brits distressed

Welcome to the Mirror’s Daily Digest, where we’ll be pulling together all the best stories of the day from our News, Showbiz, Royal teams and more. This Friday, we’re bringing you the biggest stories from the newsroom – from a prison officer who was left with ‘serious injuries’ after reportedly being stabbed to the Tenerife airport chaos which left Brits trapped in sweltering queues.

Meanwhile, our News team has been following the Liverpool parade crash suspect Paul Doyle’s appearance at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today. We’ve also got the latest on Go Compare star Wynne Evans, who has been axed by the BBC following his Strictly Come Dancing scandals.

Horror as ‘prison officer stabbed’ at jail housing notorious inmates

Our News team has reported that a prison officer has been rushed to hospital after he was reportedly stabbed with a flick knife. Emergency services rushed to HMP Long Lartin at around 10 am this morning, following reports that an inmate knifed an officer. It has been reported that the weapon was dropped into the prison via a drone.

A Prison Service spokesperson confirmed the attack and said an investigation is underway. They said: “Police are investigating an attack on a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin. We will not tolerate assaults on hardworking staff and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators.”

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police added: “We were called to HMP Long Lartin in South Littleton around 10am this morning (Friday, May 30), following a report someone had been assaulted by an inmate. One man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after sustaining a stab wound. The inmate remains within the prison and the investigation is on-going. “

Read the full story here.

Wynne Evans axed by BBC after Strictly scandal

After months of Strictly Come Dancing scandals, Wynne Evans has been axed by the BBC, our Showbiz team reported this afternoon. The Go Compare star revealed that he has not had his contract renewed and will not be back with the BBC for his radio show – and thus has decided to continue to do his radio show away from the BBC.

It comes after the TV personality hit headlines during his time on the dance show, where he was shown grabbing his professional partner Katya’s waist before she pushed his hand away, but he later insisted it was a joke. He then came under fire for using the term ‘spit roast’ to Janette Manrara during a Strictly photocall but he later insisted it was directed at Jamie Borthwick and nothing to do with Janette.

As a result of the comment, he was axed from the Strictly tour – and then a video emerged of him sending a sex toy to his co-star Jamie, which both were heavily criticised for. In an emotional statement, he said: “My beloved Wynners, From the very depths of my heart — thank you. These past few months, your love has been the light in my darkest days. Every message, every word of encouragement, every moment you stood by me has carried me through more than you could ever know.”

“It breaks my heart to say the BBC has decided not to renew my contract so I won’t be returning to my radio show. I’m gutted. That show wasn’t just work — it was home. It was us. We laughed, we cried, we sang like nobody was listening. And somehow, through the airwaves, we became a family.”

Read the full story here.

Brits caught in ‘inhumane’ airport chaos as passengers fight and vomit in crush

Our Travel team has been following the latest updates on the Tenerife South Airport chaos, after British travellers found themselves trapped in two-hour queues and “inhuman” conditions at the start of the school holidays. Last Monday night, more than 500 people found themselves packed into a waiting area at the Canary Islands travel hub.

They waited for hours to pass through the security as a bottleneck formed by two checkpoints, each staffed by two National Police officers. Top Spanish officials will now hold an urgent meeting after the tourists faced “inhuman” conditions at the start of the school holidays.

Many were held on a sweltering plane for 45 minutes, only to disembark and find broken escalators and lengthy queues for passport checks. Becks Gravil was one of those swept up in the chaos. It took her family two hours to leave the airport after landing at 8.30pm. “Never in my life have I ever seen it this bad,” she explained.

“There was fighting, people being sick, people fainting – all crammed in like sardines. What should have been an hour from landing to Adeje turned into four hours. What a day!”

Read the full story here.

Paul Doyle LIVE: Liverpool parade suspect in court

Our News team has been working around the clock to cover Liverpool parade crash suspect Paul Doyle’s appearance at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this morning. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the 53-year-old is accused of two counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and two counts of causing unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He is also accused of two counts of attempted unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of dangerous driving. Doyle shook his head in the dock as the prosecutor told the judge he drove “deliberately at the crowd” and “used his vehicle as a weapon”.

Police previously said 79 people were injured when a car drove into supporters on Water Street at around 6pm on Monday, with seven people still in hospital when Merseyside Police revealed his charges yesterday. Doyle will appear at court again on August 14 for plea and trial preparation hearing.

Read the full story here.

Prince Harry ‘so disappointed’ by Diana sisters’ blunt take on Meghan

There’s never a quiet day for Prince Harry, and it has emerged that the Duke of Sussex “was so disappointed” when he introduced Meghan Markle to Princess Diana’s two sisters, our Royal team reported. Harry had hoped Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes would have similarities to his mother, who died when Harry was just 12.

However, although Harry believed Diana would have been “over the moon” about his relationship with Meghan, he was upset with her sisters’ reaction. They reportedly did not see the same character traits in the two women and Harry, 40, suffered a further blow as Lady McCorquodale and Lady Fellowes “thought Meghan would not fit in with the Royal Family.”

Regardless, Harry married his partner soon after in 2018 and has gone onto have two children with the former actress. The insights have come about in the book Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors, written by royal biographer Tom Bower. He penned: “Harry assumed that Diana’s family and friends would see a similarity between Diana and his fiancée. Both, he said, shared the same problems. He was so disappointed.”

Read the full story here.

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A coalition of airlines, hotels and concession companies at Los Angeles International Airport filed paperwork Thursday to force a citywide vote on a new ordinance hiking the minimum wage of hotel and airport workers to $30 per hour by 2028.

The group, known as the L.A. Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress, is hoping to persuade voters to repeal the ordinance. But first, the alliance would need to gather about 93,000 signatures within 30 days to qualify the measure for the ballot in an upcoming election.

Phil Singer, a spokesperson for the alliance, said the wage increase “threatens revenue Los Angeles urgently needs” — and its standing as the host of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Small businesses will be forced to shut down, workers will lose their jobs, and the economic fallout will stretch across the city,” Singer said in an email. “We’re fighting for all of it: the city’s future, the jobs that sustain our communities, and the millions of guests the tourism industry proudly serves year after year.”

The new ballot measure campaign comes just two days after Mayor Karen Bass signed the minimum wage legislation into law.

The wage ordinance has been hotly opposed by an array of L.A. business organizations, which argue that it increases wages in the tourism industry too much and too quickly. However, it was welcomed by unions representing hotel and airport employees, which have supported many of the politicians who backed the measure.

The alliance’s campaign committee has received major funding from Delta Airlines, United Airlines and the American Hotel & Lodging Assn., Singer said. The group’s petition, submitted to the city clerk’s office, was signed by five businesspeople, including Greg Plummer, operator of an LAX concession company; Mark Beccaria, a partner with the Hotel Angeleno on L.A.’s Westside; and Alec Mesropian, advocacy manager with the organization known as BizFed.

The alliance is targeting a law that’s slated to push the hourly minimum wage to $22.50 on July 1 for housekeepers, parking attendants and hotel restaurant workers, as well as LAX skycaps, baggage handlers and concession employees. The wage would jump to $25 in 2026 and $27.50 in 2027.

The wage increase was spearheaded by Unite Here Local 11, the hotel and restaurant worker union, and by Service Employees International Union United Service Workers West, which represents private-sector airport workers.

Kurt Petersen, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, called the business group’s proposal “shameful” and promised his union’s members would go “toe to toe out on the streets” with the alliance’s signature gatherers.

“The hotel industry’s greed is limitless,” Petersen said. “They would rather spend millions getting them to sign this petition than pay their workers enough to live in Los Angeles. It’s shameful, but we’re confident that Angelenos will see through their deceptions and stand with workers.”

Under the city’s laws, hotel and airport workers have minimum wages that are higher than those who are employed by other industries.

The hotel minimum wage, approved by the council in 2014, is currently $20.32 per hour. The minimum wage for private-sector employees at LAX is $25.23 per hour, which includes a $5.95 hourly healthcare payment.

For nearly everyone else in L.A., the hourly minimum wage is $17.28, 78 cents higher than the state’s. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.

Backers of the airport and hotel minimum wage hikes say they will help some of the region’s lowest paid workers cover the rising cost of rent and food, while also giving them more disposable income to spend locally, delivering a boost to the region’s economy.

Detractors say it will undermine efforts by L.A.’s tourism industry to recover from the decline in business that was sparked by the outbreak of COVID-19 five years ago. They contend the ordinance will lead to layoffs, while also chilling development of new hotels.

The ordinance also requires airport and hotel businesses to provide an hourly healthcare payment — on top of the minimum wage — that starts at $7.65 in July and is expected to go up each year. (Hotels will be exempted from that requirement until 2026.)

Once the healthcare requirement is included, some businesses will be required to pay their workers an additional 60% over a three-year period, opponents of the wage increase say.

The Finnish Aviation Union has announced three strikes among workers at Helsinki Airport over the coming weeks, with Finnair the airline most impacted by the industrial action

Finnair has grounded 110 flights, impacting 8,000 customers, on a single day of a three-day strike.

Brits flying to Finland are facing travel chaos yet again, as the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) has announced three fresh strikes on May 30, June 2, and June 4 at Helsinki Airport. This is Finland’s seventh aviation strike in under a month.

The industrial action is predicted to impact just shy of 30 UK flights across the three days. As the summer getaway kicks off, this latest wave of strikes will have ripple effects across Europe. The IAU, representing ground handling, baggage, catering, maintenance, and customer service staff, will strike over wage disputes with PALTA in 4-hour staggered shifts, leading to full-day disruptions.

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According to the IAU, the average earnings of Finnair Group employees rose by 6.4 percent between 2020 and 2023. During that same period the national average increase across all sectors was 10.4 percent.

The strikes are designed to maximise disruption, with union officials organising the walkouts at strategic times across a six-day window. The result is a wave of residual disruption: cancelled flights one day, incomplete baggage delivery the next, and last-minute rerouting throughout.

Palta, which represents employers, has argued that most employee groups were ready to accept the mediator’s proposed increases, Helsinki Times reports. It has said that the IAU is demanding adjustments beyond what others have asked for.

The cancelled direct flights from the UK will see nearly 5,400 passengers affected. Since Helsinki is a direct transit hub for Brits flying to Asia, the Baltics and Northern Finland. According to Air Advisor, 11,400 UK passengers will be affected.

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Key UK routes likely to be impacted include London Heathrow to Helsinki, Manchester to Helsinki, and Edinburgh to Helsinki.

The IAU strikes are not the only ones impacting European aviation customers this week. The May 30 to June 4 strikes align with Italy’s May 28 aircrew/taxi strikes, creating a rare “Nordic-Mediterranean Disruption Corridor”, disrupting Helsinki, Milan, and Rome hubs. This will strain Frankfurt and Amsterdam connections, adding excessive pressure on these hubs.

Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and founder of AirAdvisor, said: This is no longer a strike story, it’s a system failure story. Helsinki has now had more strikes in 30 days than most countries have in a year. This represents something far more serious than a few cancelled flights: they signal a system on the brink. Helsinki Airport, once considered one of the smoothest hubs in Europe, is now suffering from chronic unpredictability. For UK passengers, this isn’t just about Finland, it’s about how a local dispute can derail an entire travel experience across Europe.

“The most worrying aspect is the deliberate spread of these strikes. By placing them days apart, IAU is stretching airline operations beyond recovery: think of aircraft out of position, bags not making it to destinations, and crew timing out. It matters because this kind of disruption doesn’t stay in Finland; it ripples across hubs like London Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam, making it even more chaotic.”

Affected passengers should check the airline’s website and mobile app for alternative flight options and manage their bookings accordingly. Finnair has told impacted customers that they will be supported with rebooking options to minimize inconvenience.

Finnair has been contacted for comment.

May 28 (UPI) — Israeli warplanes struck the Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport in Yemen on Wednesday morning, the Israel Defense Forces said, seemingly in response to missiles recently launched by the militant group toward Israel.

The IDF said in a statement on X that its airstrikes targeted unidentified aircraft belonging to the Houthis.

“The aircraft that were attacked were used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transport terrorists who promoted terrorist acts against the State of Israel,” it said.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike destroyed the last remaining planes used by the Houthis at the site that remained following the IDF’s previous attack on the airport on May 6.

“This is a clear message and a direct continuation of the policy we established: Whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price,” Katz said in the statement, The Times of Israel reported.

“The ports in Yemen will continue to be struck heavily, and the airport in Sanaa will be destroyed again and again, as will other strategic infrastructures in the area used by the Houthi terror organization and its supporters.”

Houthis, an Iran-backed group, have repeatedly attacked Israel since early in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, in response to Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw another 251 kidnapped.

The involvement of the Houthis, also an Iran-proxy militia, increased starting in mid-November when it started to enforce a military blockade of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, vowing to attack Israeli ships attempting to pass. It said the blockade was in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The rebels followed by broadening targets to include U.S. military ships.

Israel, with its allies, including the United States, have responded with conducting mass airstrikes in Yemen.

On May 6, Israel attacked the airport in Sanaa, and last week conducted similar airstrikes on ports in Hodeidah and al-Salif.

On Tuesday, the IDF said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.

“This is another example of the Houthi terrorist organization’s brutal use of civilian infrastructure for terrorist activities,” the IDF said Wednesday morning on X, seemingly in reference to the Sanaa airport.

“The IDF is determined to continue to act and strike with force anyone who poses a threat to the residents of the State of Israel, at whatever distance is required.”

DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,

Four strikes hit the runway and a Yemenia Airways plane, according to Houthi-affiliated media report.

Israel says it has launched air strikes on Yemen’s main airport in the capital, Sanaa, a day after Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired two projectiles towards Israel.

The Houthi-affiliated news outlet Al Masirah TV reported on Wednesday that four strikes hit the runway and a Yemenia Airways plane.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the Israeli air force struck Houthi “terror targets” at the airport and “destroyed the last aircraft remaining”.

“This is a clear message and a continuation of our policy: whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price,” Katz said.

The latest Israeli attack on Yemen comes a day after the Houthi armed group fired two projectiles towards Israel that were shot down by Tel Aviv’s air defences. The Houthis later confirmed that they had launched two “ballistic missiles”.

Sanaa airport, the largest in Yemen, came back into service last week after temporary repairs and runway restoration following previous Israeli strikes.

It was mainly used by United Nations aircraft and the only remaining civilian aircraft of Yemenia Airways, after three others were destroyed in the last attack.

Since Israel began its war on Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted Israel in what they say is solidarity with the Palestinians in the enclave.

This is a developing story.

Madrid-Barajas Airport – the second-largest airport in Europe by physical size – handles more than 60million tourists every year, including passengers on Ryanair and Iberia flights

One of the busiest airports in Europe is trying to support hundreds of rough sleepers.

Photographs taken recently at Madrid-Barajas Airport show homeless people attempting to rest in terminals, which make up what has now been branded “a zombieland” airport. Armed police patrol the hub, which caters for more than 60million tourists every year, but one officer even warned a journalist this week to “be careful”.

Madrid-Barajas Airport has now turned into a so-called “hidden city” with the rough sleepers, ranging in age from early 30s to late 60s, seeking shelter there. One woman in her 60s said: “I got robbed and lost all my documentation, so I have been scraping by and flitting around ever since. Basically, the little money I have isn’t enough to live on outside of the airport.”

So the airport is, in many cases, a sanctuary in the northeast of the Spanish capital. They turn in for the night at around 7.30pm, after which time images and videos were taken. They show kind-hearted staff, including police, engaging with the sleepers as the airport tries to ensure the homeless don’t come to any harm.

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Up to 500 homeless are thought to cram into the terminals each night. Some stories are heartbreaking, including that of a 67-year-old man who now has no home. The man told Mail Online: “I was in full-time employment for 50 years. I lost my job and I’ve no pension left. That’s how I ended up in this situation.”

A police officer told a reporter with the publication: “Be careful… It can be dangerous here – this is zombieland.” Yet, despite the “hidden city” emerging, no conflict has been reported.

In contrast, a man was stabbed without an apparent motive in front of stunned passengers at Palma de Mallorca’s Son Sant Joan airport this week. Carlos Heriberto Beltran Perdomo, a 45-year-old man, who is believed to be among dozens sleeping rough at the airport, later appeared in court over the attack.

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Madrid-Barajas Airport, which caters for several airlines including Ryanair, Iberia and Wizz Air, is in the busy capital, and only around eight miles from the bustling city centre. It is understood homeless extends across the city in Spain, a nation with the highest unemployment rate in Europe.

While tourism is hugely important to the country’s economy, it and its sustainability presents challenges. Authorities on the Balearics, which include Majorca and Menorca, plugged the industry by encouraging selfie-addicted influencers to promote its wonders. Those with a huge social media followings plugged attractions which have failed to enter the tourist limelight – but it seems the plan worked too well.

For example, after a slew of TikTok and Instagram influencers started raving about Caló des Moro, an incredible bay tucked away in the southeast corner of Majorca, an insufferable amount of tourists were flocking their en masse.

THIS is the first photo of the homeless man arrested over a vicious random stabbing at a popular Spanish holiday airport.

The victim was stabbed “a few centimetres” from the carotid artery in his neck in the attack at Majorca’s Palma Airport – used by hundreds of thousands of Brits every year.

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The Sun can reveal this picture of the 45-year-old suspect – a Salvadoran man thought to be one of the dozens of homeless people who sleep rough in the airport each night.

It shows Carlos Heriberto Beltran Perdomo being hauled into a police van to be taken to court, where he faces a likely attempted murder charge.

As of Thursday afternoon, Perdomo was under formal investigation but had not been officially charged over the assault.

Police revealed Perdomo had no fixed address after arresting him on Tuesday morning – moments after the stabbing.

They found a weapon in his pocket which they believe was the shank used in the attack.

The airport-sleeper refused to testify in court and was remanded in custody before an investigating judge on Wednesday.

Sources said they believe Perdomo lashed out while high on drugs after his mobile phone disappeared.

They say he became agitated while he was going through his belongings at the airport after getting off a bus.

The victim is Argentinian man who had gone to the airport with a friend who was collecting a relative. 

He told police he was approached by a “scruffy” looking man wearing a green shirt and shorts as he returned to the carpark who asked him: “What do you know about my mobile?”

Chilling CCTV images handed to investigators show the alleged attacker walking among crowds of holidaymakers behind the stab victim.

The attack occurred amid reports about a worrying rough sleeping epidemic plaguing Spanish airports.

These concerns led to night-time restrictions being introduced at Madrid’s Barajas Airport to stop around 400 homeless people bedding down there.

Detectives said in their first comments about the Palma airport attack: “The incident happened at 10.35am on Tuesday outside the airport arrivals area next to the car park.

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“A young man was stabbed in the neck and suffered a wound a few centimetres from the artery which required several stitches.

“The victim was walking with a friend towards the car park after having gone to meet a relative in arrivals when they were approached by a stranger.

“The suspect asked them about his mobile and then pounced on his victim brandishing a knife which he used to stab him in the neck.

“The young man tried to repel the attack and stop his assailant continuing to stab him, asking for help from security guards who were in the area and managed to restrain the knifeman.”

The alleged aggressor is being represented by a Majorcan based lawyer called Ivan Garcia Lopez.

Mr Lopez confirmed yesterday his client had been remanded in jail and was being investigated on suspicion of attempted murder.

He added: “I am working on trying to secure his release on bail.”

The Sun can today reveal that the arrested man was already known to Spanish police following previous detentions i including one in Ibiza last year.

He is thought to work as a chef in a Majorcan tourist resort, even though he has no fixed address.

A source close to the investigation said: “He was claiming after his arrest his mobile had disappeared after he got off a bus at the airport when he took it out for a moment to search for something in his pocket.

“It looks like the victim was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and happened to be the first person the alleged offender came across and asked about his phone.

“It was completely random. The victim could have been anyone of any nationality.”

Police requested a restraining order for the suspect, banning him from Palma Airport, before he was remanded in custody.

The request was on the basis that millions of holidaymakers use the airport facilities every day and attacks on strangers massively impact tourist security.

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The suspect has not been formally charged with any crime at this stage – as is normal in Spain where charges are only laid shortly before trial.

But he has been warned he could be jailed for up to ten years if convicted of attempted murder.

Urgent action is being demanded over the homelessness situation at a number of popular Spanish airports, including the ones in Majorca and Malaga.

The problem is said to be causing not only humanitarian issues but safety and health fears too.

At Madrid’s Barajas airport more than 400 people are reportedly sleeping rough, with many going out to work or beg during the day and returning each night.

That airport also had to be fumigated last week to treat an infestation of bedbugs, fleas and cockroaches.

Along with vacation necessities such as sunblock and a toothbrush, Southern Californians hoping to get away for Memorial Day weekend will also need to bring a hefty supply of patience to freeways and airports.

A record-breaking number of people across the country are opting to travel rather than stay in for the long weekend— the official kickoff to summer, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California, or AAA.

In Southern California, about 3.6 million are expected hit the road or hop on a plane, the third consecutive year of record-breaking travel for Memorial Day weekend.

“Consumers continue to prioritize travel with family and friends after the pandemic,” Jena Miller, vice president of travel products for AAA, said in a statement.

Most people will be behind the wheel for their weekend getaways, according to AAA. Roughly 2.9 million people in Southern California are expected to hit the road starting Thursday, about 3.6% more than last year.

About 45.1 million people across the country will be traveling for the long weekend and most of them — about 39.4 million — will be driving, AAA estimates.

The automobile club said drivers will also be paying less with car rental costs expected to be about 8% lower than last year, and gas prices about 50 to 60 cents cheaper than last May.

More drivers means more potential gridlock, but the midmorning traveler has a better chance of being rewarded with a speedier commute. Experts say before noon is the best time for people to get on the road this weekend.

“Thursday, May 22 and Friday, May 23 are expected to be the busiest travel day,” Gianella Ghiglino, a spokesperson for AAA, said in a statement. “So if you are leaving those days, you want to make sure you avoid that morning rush hour and you still leave before noon.”

In Southern California, the busiest stretch of freeway is expected to be the 5 Freeway from Los Angeles to Bakersfield, where the typical 90-minute drive could take up to three hours during the worst times, according to AAA.

Vacationers looking to hop on a flight this weekend should be prepared for packed airports.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, nearly 54,000 flights are scheduled Thursday, the busiest day of air travel for the weekend and one of the busiest days of the year so far at airports across the country.

That increase will come despite the fact that domestic flights cost about 2% more this year compared with 2024, according to AAA.

The Transportation Security Administration is bracing for the rush of travelers. The agency expects to screen about 18 million passengers and crew members between Thursday and Wednesday.

“TSA is ready for the additional passenger volume, and we look forward to welcoming families traveling during this peak period,” Ha McNeill, TSA acting administrator, said in a statement.

Officials are encouraging air passengers to ensure bags are compliant with TSA regulations and to bring a Real ID or other acceptable identification such as a passport.

Munich Airport is home to Airbräu – a vast brewery where the fresh beer flows freely and punters can keep necking litres up until the very last minute of their holiday

The holiday stein clinking and foam slurping never has to stop at Airbräu, the world’s only brewery inside an airport.

Each year Oktoberfest draws lederhosen enthusiasts from across the world to Munich in Bavaria, where they spend the final days of September and first week of October crowding into beer halls and getting rowdy.

Once the last of the leather shorts have been wiped dry and the wooden tables packed away for the year, the fun doesn’t necessarily have to stop. That’s because Munich Airport is home to Airbräu – a vast brewery where the fresh beer flows freely and punters can keep necking litres up until the very last minute of their holiday.

“We welcome you to the first airport brewery in the world. We have been brewing our unique beers strictly according to the purity law and directly at Munich Airport since 1999,” Airbräu’s website cordially invites.

“We serve our home-brewed beers on site in our Airbräu restaurant. You can also get the incomparable taste at home with our handy Aircraft six-packs or the party barrels. Our Airbräu connects tradition with international flair and conveys Bavarian hospitality as well as a sense of homecoming. The dishes are freshly prepared and the ingredients are sourced locally.”

Airbräu does not take advantage of its location inside the slightly no-man’s land of the airport terminal to cut corners, instead producing its beer in accordance with German brewing laws. That means only barley, malt, hops, water and yeast. Brewmaster René Jacobsen will be on hand to explain the individual steps during a guided tour through the brewery – followed by a free tasting.

Punters can either sit inside next to the brewing kettles or relax in the beer garden, where long covered tables encourage a lively atmosphere and shelter from the rain.

One of the biggest selling points of the brewery is how cheap the beer is. Small, 200ml glasses of beer cost just €2.5 (£2.10), while a litre glass is €7.4 (£6.25). Judiciousness is advised, however, as the beers are between 4.5% and 5.9% ABV.

Airbräu is so popular that many passengers say they look forward to visiting it more than actually going on holiday.

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“When we fly back, we are already looking forward to the Bavarian cuisine and the good beer again at the Airbräu,” one happy customer wrote on Tripadvisor.

Another added: “It’s really surprising how they manage to create some kind of atmosphere in such a fast-paced and hectic atmosphere. The food, beer and prices are all OK. A very good way to make the waiting time bearable in a relaxed Bavarian way.”

A third wrote: “I hate to admit it, but this maybe some of the best Bavarian food I I had in Germany. The pork Roast was fantastic. A good crispy crust on the skin. Salads and dumpling’s were also very traditional. Great food for an airport.”

Holidaymakers with UK passports are facing a major change at airports after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer outlined the terms of the UK’s new ‘EU reset deal’ – and it could come into effect this year

A major change affecting holidaymakers with British passports is set to come into effect. Sir Keir Starmer announced the news as part of what he described as a ‘common sense’ deal with the EU, reached nine years after the UK first voted to leave the European Union.

Starmer described the deal as a “win-win” as he shook hands with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in London on Monday (May 19). “Britain is back on the world stage,” he declared. “[The deal] gives us unprecedented access to the EU market, the best of any country… all while sticking to the red lines in our manifesto.”

The PM went on to explain the impact of the “new partnership between an independent Britain and our allies in Europe” on voters’ daily lives.

“Let me set out why it is good for Britain,” he said in a speech posted to X.

“Today’s deal will […] help British holidaymakers. We’re confirming that they will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues at passport control.”

Since Brexit, British passport holders have been considered “visa-exempt third-country nationals” and have generally had to queue for manual checks at border control to have their passport stamped.

Brits were able to use e-gates at a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal.

However, the EU has now agreed to ease checks on British travellers more universally.

The deal states that “there will be no legal barriers to e-gate use for British nationals travelling to and from European Union.”

When will I be able to use e-gates?

It has not yet been confirmed when the changes will come into effect.

However, the EU plans to launch its new Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025, replacing the need for non-EU citizens to have their passports stamped. It is thought that more EU airports will allow UK passengers to use the e-gates after the new system comes into effect.

The system will require travellers to have their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken so they can be registered to a database. Their data will then be stored for three years.

Those who do not provide a fingerprint scan and photo will be denied entry.

Some EU airports will still require additional checks and Brits may not be able to use e-gates here.

Brits will also still be subject to the ’90-day rule’, whereby eligible non-EU citizens can spend 90 days in any 180-day period in the EU without a visa.

Travel records will be digitised under the new EES to enforce this rule and increase border security.

The ‘landmark deal’ is also expected to “lower food prices at checkouts”, improve UK defence and put “more money in people’s pockets,” according to Starmer. Von der Leyen described it as “a historic moment […] opening a new chapter in our unique relationship.”

BRITS heading to Europe could soon find it much easier thanks to new plans allowing holidaymakers to use airport e-gates.

Since the UK left the EU, British tourists have faced huge queues at the airport across Europe after being forced to use the standard passport gates.

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However, the UK government has revealed plans of a deal that would allow UK holidaymakers to use the much faster e-gates when visiting Europe.

The talks, part of the UK-EU summit taking place today, suggest Brits would join other EU tourists in the shorter queues, The Guardian reports.

EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said he backed the potential rule change.

He told Sky News: “I would love to see you being able to go through the border more quickly in that way.

“That’s certainly something we’ve been pushing with the EU and I think that will be something that will be very helpful to British people.

“I think we can all agree that not being stuck in queues and having more time to spend, whether it’s on holiday or work trips, having more time to do what you want, would be a very sensible objective.”

Plans to allow Brits to use e-gates in European countries were put forward back in 2023 by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak although never came into fruition.

Last summer, some Brits even missed their flights when travelling through Spain due to long passport queues while waiting to get them stamped.

Another Brit wrote on Tripadvisor: “My lunchtime arrival at Oslo left me with an hour and a half wait to get through manual passport control.”

Another agreed: “The queue was horrendous, people couldn’t even get into the passport hall. Took just over 90 minutes to get through.”

However, the new rules could cause problems with passport stamping, which is still required from Brits entering and exiting Europe.

This is because of the new rules which only allow Brits to visit for 90 days in an 180 day period.

Anyone without an outgoing stamp could be mistakenly seen to have overstayed in Europe and even be banned from entering – which happened to a British tourist in Majorca back in 2022.

But it comes ahead of the constantly-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) which will scrap the need for passport stamping entirely.

First announced in 2016, it finally hopes to be rolled out from October this year.

Instead of manual passport stamping, new biometric checks will take place instead.

And next year will see the roll out of the ETIAS – a visa waiver that Brits will need to visit Europe.

Costing around €7 and lasting three years, it will be similar to the current ESTA Brits need when visiting the US.

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A survey of 19 airport hotel brands has revealed those at the top and bottom of the table when it comes to customer satisfaction and value for money – with one in particular proving to be a ‘disappointment’

Despite their handy proximity to the terminals, many airport hotel brands are failing to provide good value for money and quality food and drink, according to a new ranking of the best and worst in the country.

In a survey involving over 1,600 participants, 19 airport hotel chains were judged on aspects such as customer service, cleanliness and value for money. Which? also sent undercover inspectors to two of the listed hotels – DoubleTree by Hilton and Thistle – to see if their experiences matched the survey results.

DoubleTree by Hilton – with locations at Edinburgh Airport, London Heathrow, Manchester and Newcastle – was the most impressive to travellers. The chain bagged five stars for cleanliness, bed comfort and location, achieving an impressive overall customer score of 80 per cent.

On the other end of things, Bloc Hotel at Gatwick shows that proximity to a departure lounge does not mean everything. Depite being right next to the South Terminal check-in desks, it still scored poorly on the survey with 64% overall, earning a meagre two stars for value for money, bedrooms, bathrooms, and customer service.

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The average price per night is £142. Guests complain about overpriced tiny rooms, some without windows, with one survey participant noting: “The room was too small for two people. The bed was against the wall, so one person had to wriggle out to use the loo. And the bathroom was a wetroom, so the toilet area flooded when you used the shower”.

A spokesperson for BLOC Hotel noted that the survey’s conclusions “are drawn from such a small and unrepresentative sample size – which seems to be just 42 reviews. At Bloc Gatwick, we achieve a customer service score of 91% across major platforms including Booking.com, Google, TripAdvisor, and Expedia, based on more than 8,000 verified reviews over the past 12 months.”

Contrastingly, the Mirror’s own travel editor, Nigel Thompson, stayed at BLOC Hotel and praised it thoroughly, awarding it a score of 9.5 out of 10.

Travelodge has emerged as the most affordable choice in a recent survey, boasting an average nightly rate of a mere £74. Despite its modest pricing, the hotel chain only managed to secure a customer satisfaction rate of 65 per cent, earning itself a middling three-star rating for most features like value for money and its bedrooms and bathrooms.

However, it fell short in the food and drink department, scraping by with just two stars. Dissatisfied guests didn’t mince their words, one commenting: “Most of the items on the menu were unavailable. What was available was clearly poor quality and microwaved.”

Strategically positioned near major UK airfields such as Cardiff Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and London City Airport, Travelodge still remains a convenient option.

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Which?’s incognito inspectors visited the DoubleTree by Hilton at Newcastle airport and gave it high marks. Highlights included warm cookies given to guests upon arrival, room service until the early hours, and a generous midday checkout time.

Guests can also enjoy a continental breakfast from as early as 4.30am. The inspectors also praised the spacious rooms, blackout curtains and plush king-size beds.

The Thistle in London Heathrow Terminal 5 was the second hotel to which Which? sent undercover inspectors. With a score of 72 per cent in the survey, Thistle received a Which? Great Value award. Despite its dated decor, the inspectors found the hotel clean and convenient, offering excellent deals for park and stay. The hotel had a fairly comfy bed and a decent shower, and is just a five-minute pod ride from the airport.

At just £78 with a buffet breakfast, it was considered a bargain. Thistle also has a hotel at London Luton Airport.

Travellers seeking an airport hotel are prioritising convenience for terminal access, with a whopping 87% in a consumer survey claiming it’s essential. Luckily, food is less of a big deal.

None of the hotels surveyed scooped up more than three stars for their culinary offerings. An individual recounting their airport hotel experience grumbled: “‘I ordered a sirloin steak and it was as tough as old boots. My wife ordered a pizza and it had to go back.”

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Nonetheless, airport hotels are proving invaluable to passengers travelling by car. Special package deals coupling a one-night’s stay with extended holiday parking can be surprisingly economical.

For example, Thistle at Heathrow Terminal 5 offers secure, CCTV-monitored on-site parking. An August booking for a night plus seven days of parking is priced at £210—a savvy saving of £52 compared to booking a separate hotel room and opting for the adjacent official T5 Pod Parking.

The Which? rankings with overall customer score

1. Double Tree by Hilton: 80%
2. Premier Inn: 79%
3. Sofitel: 78%
4. Holiday Inn Express: 76%
5. Clayton Hotels: 73%
6. Crowne Plaza: 73%
7. Thistle: 72%
8. Courtyard by Marriott: 71%
9. Hilton: 71%
10. Novotel: 71%
11. Radisson Blu: 71%
12. Holiday Inn: 70%
13. Best Western: 67%
14. Hilton Garden Inn: 67%
15. Ibis: 67%
16. Ibis Budget: 67%
17. Hampton by Hilton: 66%
18. Travelodge: 65%
19. BLOC Hotel: 64%

Terminal 4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas in the Spanish capital has been struggling to deal with a reported insect infestation this week, as political tensions grow over rough sleeping at the airport

The largest airport in Spain has been hit by an apparent bed bug outbreak, with passengers and workers claiming they’ve been bitten.

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has been fumigated this week following widespread reports of insect outbreaks, including bed bugs. Some holidaymakers have photographed bite marks they claim to have received during transit through Europe’s second-largest airport.

Airport workers have reported insect bites, prompting the airport’s managing body to hire a pest control company that has fumigated hallways, furniture, and check-in belts for bedbugs, ticks, and cockroaches.

However, a Naturalia report into the alleged outbreak downplayed it, suggesting the bites were “a one-off incident with no determined origin.” The company said in a statement: “The presence of bed bugs is associated with the movement of people and not with the facilities. In the short to medium term, the situation should return to normal.”

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AENA, the airport’s operator, has explained that inspections, monitoring, and prevention treatments had been carried out, and whenever an insect was identified in very limited and defined areas, specific actions were taken. The airport operator assured that it had worked “in coordination” with the cleaning company and the specialised firm to incorporate all necessary hygienic measures and has kept the companies to which these workers belong informed at all times.

It’s not the only issue which airport officials are facing. There are also 421 people without permanent homes sleeping in the airport, according to the latest census conducted by the NGO Cáritas. On occasional nights since February as many as 500 people have been bedding down in one of the terminals, InfoBae reports.

According to a report in El Mundo, the situation in the airport is getting worse. “What began as a large group of homeless people spending the night, night after night, on Level 1 of Terminal 4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has finally become overwhelming. They can now be found on any floor, in any corner, despite the temperature reduction at nightfall or the constant messages over the PA system that resonate every few minutes,” the newspaper writes.

Many living there are struggling to get by in a city where living costs and housing prices have shot up in recent years. One Honduran man found himself with no fixed place to stay after moving to Spain two years ago. He sends photographs of tourist attractions in the city to his mum back home, to convince her that he’s prospering in Europe.

But living in the airport is tough. “They stole everything while I was sleeping… I imagine it was someone else desperate from here. They took my transport card, my cell phone, my passport, the only 60 euros I had,” the distraught man told El Mundo.

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During the day many leave the airport and head into the city where they wait with signs offering their services. “Then a van comes and chooses us. But of course, some ask for 60 euros, others 40, others 20… In the end, the one who earns the least is the one who gets the job. He ends up being the most exploited, but at least at the end of the day he has 20 euros in his pocket. This life is very complicated,” the Honduran man explained.

Terminal 4 – where most people who sleep at the airport bed down for the night – has become difficult to navigate for some holidaymakers. The bathrooms are often occupied by people living there and the departure halls have become crowded.

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This week it was reported that AENA will start limiting access to the terminal outside of the busiest times of the day. During parts of the day with fewer flights only passengers with boarding passes, their departing and arriving companions, and airport staff will be able to access the airport terminals, 20 Minutos reports.

A spokesperson for the airport operator has said it will continue to collaborate with social organizations in the third sector to ensure that people experiencing homelessness can access decent housing.

AENA has been contacted for comment.