queues

ONE of Spain‘s most popular airports with Brits is getting a multi-million pound upgrade in time for the next summer holidays.

Palma de Mallorca Airport is undergoing a massive modernisation project.

Costing €500million (£440million), one of the biggest upgrades is the new security area which has 44 check in lines.

It also has new state-of-the-art equipment so it means you can leave your electronics and liquids in your hand luggage.

Just make sure they are still under 100ml each as those rules are still in place.

Both Module A and Module D have been upgraded, with the former having a new retail area and walkways linking the terminals, as well as more departure gates.

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This also includes 40 new digital passport gates for departing passengers.

Other upcoming changes include upgraded check in counters to allow space for more passengers, as well as more baggage reclaim belts and security checkpoints.

And a new retail area with shops, bars and restaurants is in the works as well, which connects Modules A, B, C and D.

The works are expected to continue until the end of next year, although most of the tourist-facing upgrades will be finished before the summer season.

Aena’s vice-chairman Javier Marín said around 70 per cent of the project is currently complete.

Palma de Mallorca Airport welcomes more than 30million passengers a year, with a record 33.3million last year.

And new flights have launched to the airport this year, including from Glasgow Airport with British Airways and from Leeds with easyJet.

Earlier this year, Ryanair also revealed a huge £1.2billion investment in the airport, with 80 new routes this summer.

The EES system will also be rolled out at Palma Airport this month on November 19.

It’s not the only Spanish airport undergoing a major upgrade as part of a €13bn (£11.3bn) investment plan across the country.

This includes a £2.8billion upgrade for Barcelona Airport, one of Spain’s biggest.

And Malaga Airport’s £1.3billion renovation will see larger terminals and faster security.

Here’s the £1billion Spanish abandoned airport.

THE new EES is officially underway – and the new system has already been causing long wait times at certain airports.

Passengers at Brussels Airport have complained about waiting for up to three hours to get through border control this week.

One passenger spoke to The Brussels Times about her ordeal getting through border control at Brussels Airport claiming she waited for more than three hours.

Rebecca Wells who was travelling with a US passport, told the publication that the queue for those arriving outside of the EU was much longer than the one for EU passports.

She added: “There was nobody there to brief you or tell you what was going on.”

And when it came to the new EES system, it wasn’t used. Rebecca explained that her passport was “stamped like normal”.

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Despite there being a spot to take fingerprints, it wasn’t used.

Another disgruntled passenger took to social media taking a picture of the queue and remarked that just two out of the five customs booths were open during “peak time”.

However, another passenger who also spoke to The Brussels Times on an EU passport said it was “all digital” and she had no issues going through.

When The Brussels Times approached Brussels Airport for comment, they could not confirm whether the long wait times were due to the EES system.

A spokesperson for the Federal Police, which is responsible for the airport’s border control, told the publication that the long wait time was due to “a combination of factors”.

The new EES rules began the first phase of the rollout on October 12, 2025.

For travellers, it means having fingerprints scanned and photo taken at European borders.

The new system is being rolled out across Europe gradually and is set to be completely operational at all external Schengen border crossings by April 10, 2026.

At Dover, the new EES is required by coach drivers and won’t apply to other passengers until November 1.

Meanwhile, Eurostar has started with just business travellers, and the Eurotunnel will begin with coaches and lorries before moving to cars.

The first time you travel and will be required to use the EES system, you’ll need to register at a special machine called a kiosk.

You’ll scan your passport, then the machine will take your fingerprints and a photo.

Kids under 12 will not need to give fingerprints.

You will also answer four quick questions on the screen about your trip, such as where you are staying and confirming you have enough money for your holiday.

Once registered, your details are stored for three years, and on future trips, you’ll just need a quick face scan to verify it is you.

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Here’s more on the new EES rules and how it will affect your travels.

And here’s more information on the ETIAS – set to be in place from late 2026.

The much-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) will be gradually rolled out across 29 European countries in the Schengen area across the next six months

UK holidaymakers are bracing for extended queues at European borders as fresh regulations kick in on October 12.

The long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) will be phased in across 29 European nations within the Schengen zone over the coming six months. The new system means British tourists must provide fingerprints and photographs when first entering or exiting the Schengen area. This creates a digital profile lasting three years.

Alongside the fresh EES procedures, Brits will still get their passports stamped, though this will eventually be phased out once EES becomes fully established.

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The European Union expects the EES to be “fully operational” by April 10 2026. Yet British travellers should prepare for lengthier border delays starting October 12, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Travel expert Simon Calder recently outlined the new regulations in The Independent, cautioning Brits about an ‘additional obstacle’ at EU frontiers. Though he pointed out that certain UK passengers hold a ‘superpower’ document that allows them to bypass border queues.

He noted that Britons holding an Irish passport should present this when journeying to Europe. In response to a query about which passports dual British-EU citizens should utilise, he advised: “If you have the wisdom and fortune to have an Irish passport, use that at all times.”

“It has a superpower no other document has: unfettered access to both the UK and the European Union, with no need to get an online permit in advance,” Simon continued.

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The Irish government’s website states that if you or one of your parents were born on the island of Ireland before 2005, you can apply for an Irish passport without needing to apply for citizenship.

If you, or your parents, were born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005, your right to Irish citizenship depends on:

• the parents’ citizenship at the time of the birth
• the residency history of one of the parents before the birth

You can also apply for Irish citizenship by descent if your grandparent was born on the island of Ireland. Citizenship can also be acquired through naturalisation, which requires you to meet certain criteria such as legally living in Ireland for five years or being married or in a civil partnership with an Irish citizen.

According to the Irish government, a record-breaking 1,080,000 Irish passports were issued in 2022. The number of first-time passport applications from Northern Ireland and Great Britain was 100,000 out of over 1.15 million total applications received that year.

Calder, speaking about passport holders from other EU countries, advised: “For all other EU passports, register with the European document outbound (and show it when you arrive). Coming back, register the British document (and show it when you arrive).”

HEATHROW Airport has been evacuated after reports of a fire.

Passengers were forced out of Terminal Three at Europe’s largest airport as fire crews probe the incident.

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Passengers have reported huge queues and baggage claim being shut down as staff respond to the alarm.

Writing on X, the airport said: “While the fire service investigate a fire alarm, some areas of Terminal 3 have been temporarily evacuated.

“Colleagues are working as quickly as possible to resolve this, and we apologise for any disruption this may cause to journeys.”

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Disneyland Paris has iconic rides, attractions and plenty of fun for the whole family – but there’s one little-known pass that could help you skip the queue

Disneyland Paris is on most families’ bucket lists thanks to its iconic rides (Peter Pan or It’s A Small World, anyone?), incredible fireworks shows and of course those all-important character meet and greets.

Like most theme parks, during the peak school holidays there can be busy queues at Mickey Mouse‘s Parisian home. There are ways you can cut down wait times for example by buying fast passes – dubbed Premier Access – but if you’re on a tight budget these aren’t always the way to go.

However, there’s one little-known Disneyland Pass that not only lets you skip the queues for rides and characters, but also gets you easier access to some of the best spots for seeing the fireworks shows and parades. Dubbed the ‘Bambi pass’ by those in the know, it’s completely FREE of charge. Another perk? Those who hold it can bring up to FOUR people along to the front of the queue too.

The only catch? You’ll need to be pregnant if you want to use it. The ‘Pregnant Woman bracelet’ (we prefer the name Bambi Pass) is a band that you can collect at the information desks, and they’ll give you Priority Access to the majority of what the parks have to offer.

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The pass isn’t actually a secret – in fact, if you know where to look you can find all the details on the Disneyland Paris website. However, it’s one that often gets overlooked by expectant mums who just assume they can’t join in on the fun.

Not only can they join in the fun, but they can bring their family with them – four people on rides, and two for shows or parade viewing spots.

Of course it’s worth noting that there are some rides which you won’t be able to go on if you’re pregnant, so if you are thinking of going, it’s worth checking the theme park website to check exactly which rides and attractions you’d want to do, to avoid disappointment. Still, it could prove useful if you’re thinking of taking your toddlers or older kids to Disneyland before their new sibling arrives – and means you can all still enjoy the bulk of the magic together.

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A guide to the pass on the Disneyland Paris website explains: “Collect this bracelet on presentation of a medical certificate dated less than 3 months (French or English) at the dedicated counters at the entrance to Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios, at hotel concierge services or at City Hall and Studio Services.

“The Pregnant Woman bracelet allows priority but not immediate access to attractions, shows and meetings with Disney Characters, as well as to the cash desks of our restaurants and shops. Contact our Cast Members.

“You can be accompanied by 4 attendants for the attractions and indoors shows, and 2 attendants for the parades and outdoors shows.

“Please consult the Accessibility Maps for details of how to access our attractions.”

You can find out more on the Disneyland Paris website.

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Tourists have taken to social media to express their anger and disgust at the conditions passengers are facing on either arriving or leaving the holiday airport

Holidaymakers have criticised the “absolute chaos” at Majorca’s airport, amid warnings that the situation could worsen as the peak summer season approaches.

Frustrated travellers are venting their fury on social media over the conditions they’ve encountered upon arrival or departure from the popular holiday destination’s airport. Complaints are mounting about extensive queues, bins brimming with rubbish, disruptive construction work, and lengthy detours requiring up to 20-minute walks due to ongoing “improvements” that began in 2022.

Tourists argue that Palma airport’s state tarnishes the Spanish island’s image and could deter people from choosing Majorca for their holidays. This wave of criticism follows recent reports of Tenerife airport’s overcrowding, where passengers endured long waits in “inhumane” conditions.

Majorca now finds itself under similar scrutiny, with a flurry of videos posted online illustrating the airport’s congestion and inadequate facilities. The Spanish newspaper Diario de Majorca reports that what was meant to be a warm welcome for thousands has turned into a source of complaints and mockery, as many visitors, particularly tourists, share footage of their chaotic experiences.

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One user juxtaposed the serenity of a Majorcan cove against the airport’s pandemonium, highlighting overflowing bins and litter-strewn floors amidst the construction zones. The lack of order and ongoing construction work at the airport has left passengers frustrated.

“Maybe I know it’s because it’s under remodelling hahaha, but there were many things that didn’t work,” one traveller penned. Another shared a video taken on a typical Tuesday afternoon, captioning it: “This is Majorca’s airport on any given Tuesday… and it’s chaos.”

The footage reveals a main corridor packed with passengers, leaving little room for normal circulation. A third disgruntled passenger posted: “You have to walk half a marathon through the airport. It’s an aberration.”

This isn’t the first time Son Sant Joan airport has been the butt of viral jokes. The meme account @mem.es. meme recently shared a video that has racked up over 70,000 views, poking fun at the lengthy walks passengers have to carry out to exit the terminal.

Diario de Majorca has reported that some improvement have been made. “Although in recent weeks more direct accesses and better signage have been put in place as part of the remodelling works started in 2022, the memory of labyrinthine corridors, poorly indicated temporary detours and routes of up to 20 minutes on foot is still very much alive,” the publication wrote.

“The high season has barely begun, and with it, the criticism of facilities that, according to many users, are not yet ready to withstand the influx of travellers expected in the coming months.”

Palma airport is currently undergoing a major transformation set to be completed in 2026 with a significant investment.

Recent milestones include the unveiling of the new security filters last November, now situated on the second floor, as part of a 550 million euro investment. Another significant development is the new connecting walkway between the main building and module D, which will enable boarding to be accessed through the centre of the building rather than the end, thus reducing walking distances.

This infrastructure will have two different directions. While the entrance is already operational, the exit access isn’t anticipated until the summer of 2025.

Hundreds of British holidaymakers found themselves trapped in ‘inhumane conditions’ at a packed Spanish airport with just two booths open to check their passports

An emergency meeting has been called among top Spanish politicians after British travellers found themselves trapped in two-hour queues and “inhuman” conditions at the start of the school holidays, before even making it through passport control.

On Monday (May 26), around 500 UK holidaymakers found themselves stuck waiting on the tarmac at Tenerife South Airport for up to 45 minutes, before disembarking to find broken-down escalators and vast lines stretching in and out of the terminal to have their passports checked.

At the airport, some travellers reported seeing four officials manning just two passport control booths. As a result, passengers were crammed into a situation described as “claustrophobic” and “third world”.

Lourdes Tourecillas, a local resident who was returning from Bristol, told Canarian Weekly that, “Some parents lifted their children onto their shoulders to stop them from suffocating,” adding, “there were no toilets, and people were visibly distressed.”

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The President of Tenerife’s ruling council, Rosa Dávila, has called an emergency meeting in light of the incident, with chaos and long queues becoming a common problem at the busy airport during peak tourism periods.

Dávila called the situation “unacceptable” but blamed the situation on the continued failure to provide sufficient staff for border checks ever since the UK left the European Union.

She added: “This is a structural issue. We can’t continue to operate with the same staffing levels we had pre-Brexit.”

A major issue facing travellers on Monday was the inability of the airport’s automated checking systems to process children’s passports. This meant families having to queue with kids and baggage for hours in sweltering, lengthy, lines to kick off their holidays.

The council’s President said she had written to mainland politicians, but received no meaningful response. “There’s a serious lack of respect towards Tenerife. We’re managing essential services locally, but without state support, we’re being left to fail,” she said.

Lope Afonso, Tenerife’s Tourism Minister, warned: “This is the first impression our visitors get. After hours on a plane, they’re met with long waits and no explanation. It’s not acceptable, and it’s hurting our brand as a quality tourist destination,” he said.

“Tenerife competes globally. Other countries have adapted their systems since Brexit. Why haven’t we?”

He also had a warning for summer travellers, if mainland politicians don’t take action, saying: “We need immediate solutions to avoid this happening again, especially with the busy summer season ahead.”