Tenerife holiday chaos as furious tourists call for urgent action
Tenerife South Airport has become a source of frustration for some travellers, with queues at passport control for Brits stretching for hours. Then, once passengers finally make it through, many are then faced with additional delays - long waits for
With Irish holidaymakers gearing up to escape the festive madness and gloomy winter weather, many are jetting off to Tenerife in search of some much-needed winter sun. However, what should be a relaxing getaway is being marred by massive delays and chaos at the island's main airport, raising concerns for those planning a festive break.
Tenerife South Airport has become a source of frustration for some travellers, with queues at passport control for Brits stretching for hours.
Then, once passengers finally make it through, many are then faced with additional delays - long waits for taxis to take them to their holiday destinations. It's hardly the dream start to a holiday anyone envisions.
The situation has reportedly been deteriorating for months, with little sign of improvement. Hoteliers on the island are voicing concerns over the potential long-term damage to tourism. Ashotel, the association representing Tenerife’s hotel employers, has called for immediate action to resolve the problems at the airport before frustrated holidaymakers turn their backs on the popular destination altogether.
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In a recent report highlighted by Canarian Weekly, Ashotel laid out the root causes of the crisis, citing a severe understaffing issue at passport control. According to the report, only two police officers are typically on duty for passport checks, while the airport’s biometric self-service machines have remained out of order. This lack of resources is leading to hours-long queues for Brits at immigration, which travellers are struggling to endure after long flights, Mirror UK reports.
Ashotel described the situation as "unacceptable for a top-tier tourist destination." On a single day, November 7th, only half of the available passport control booths were operational, while 30 high-tech self-service machines sat idle. The association has sent an urgent letter to Anselmo Pestana, the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands, requesting an immediate meeting with the National Police to address the worsening situation.
The chaos doesn’t end at passport control. Many holidaymakers face even more delays trying to get a taxi outside the airport, with some waiting up to an hour to begin their onward journeys. The problem stems from regulations giving exclusive rights to taxis from the Granadilla de Abona municipality to operate at the airport. Vehicles from other areas are forced to return empty after drop-offs, leaving queues of travelers stuck waiting for the limited supply of approved taxis.
Ashotel has urged authorities to lift these restrictions and create an unrestricted taxi service for Tenerife South, stressing the airport’s importance as a "sensitive" key transport hub. The organisation also pointed out that Tenerife South handled 12.3 million passengers in 2023, making it the seventh-busiest airport in Spain’s AENA network.
With the festive season well underway, the airport's struggles are threatening to tarnish Tenerife’s reputation as a go-to destination for Irish holidaymakers. Ashotel has warned that unless action is taken swiftly, the island could see long-term damage to its vital tourism industry. For now, Irish travellers heading to the Canary Islands may need to pack plenty of patience alongside their sunscreen.
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