BRITS heading for Spain's most popular holiday hotspots are facing "completely unacceptable" queues and delays at passport controls this summer.
The alert has been sounded by the Spanish association of airlines, ALA.
Its president Javier Gándara warned: "The image of endless queues or missed connection is the last thing we need."
Mr. Gandara has spoken out following queues at passport controls at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport over the weekend.
The ALA says the scenes are likely to be repeated at other tourist airports, such as the Balearics and Canary Islands, Alicante and Malaga.
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Mr. Gándara has demanded that the Ministry of Interior take action so that the “necessary resources are available in all Spanish airports to handle the influx of tourists” at the beginning of the summer season and blames lack of staff.
He says 1,000 passengers were affected at Barajas this weekend on connecting flights and a total of 4,500 travellers so far in March.
Tourists on intercontinental flights are finding it difficult to catch their connections on time due to the long queues at checkpoints.
Mr. Gándara warned that “not long from now” the large influx of British passengers will begin, so he said that “by then it will not only be a possible problem for Barajas but also for other tourist airports such as the Balearic and Canary Islands, Alicante and Malaga."
“We are asking for the necessary resources to be put in place to be able to meet demand,” reported Majorca's Daily Bulletin.
He stressed that in the case of Spain, more than 80 per cent of international visitors travel to the country by air: “It is the first perception that tourists who visit us have and that the image is of endless queues or missed connections and this is the last thing we need."
Airport operator AENA has said that the border force is not its responsibility and it is up to the Ministry of Interior to resolve the problem of a lack of National Police officers and key times.
Last summer, Brits were been left fuming after being stuck in four-hour queues at passport control in Spain.
In better news, holidaymakers who want to travel around the country will be able to do so for free.
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Last July, the Spanish government introduced free rail journeys in a bid to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis in the country.
According to Euronews, Spain has extended the free train travel scheme until the end of 2023, which includes British tourists.
The free tickets are for medium-distance train rides, operated by Renfe.
