Lisbon airport border control queues easing – government
After the reinforcement of 80 police officers, stationed at Lisbon airport to ensure border control, the ministry of the interior said that there has been "a general reduction in queues”.
The Portuguese ministry of the interior has issued a statement saying that there has been a reduction in queues and waiting times at Lisbon airport and that all border control checkpoints are manned by police officers on duty at all times.
After the reinforcement of 80 Public Security Police officers, stationed at Lisbon airport to ensure border control, the ministry of the interior said, in a written response to Lusa on Tuesday, that there has been “a general reduction in queues and waiting times”.
“The situation at Lisbon Airport is being monitored continuously”, said the ministry headed by Maria Lúcia Amaral, adding that the reinforcement of 80 officers serves “to respond to the increase in traffic during the festive season”, which includes Christmas and the New Year.
Regarding the situation at Lisbon Airport, which has experienced constraints in recent weeks, the Deputy Secretary of State at the ministry of the interior also said on Tuesday that “all booths are currently staffed by officers from the Public Security Police and the Foreigners and Borders Unit”.
Paulo Simões Ribeiro indicated that the new control system for passengers arriving from countries outside the Schengen area and the arrival of people coming to Portugal to spend Christmas are causing “increased constraints”.
Still on the subject of the new system, the secretary of state explained that it is working and that “it has caused constraints in Portugal, but also in other Schengen countries, because it is a new system and people are getting used to it and there is still some development to be done”.
Since 10 December, the second phase has been underway with the collection of biometric data, which consists of obtaining photographs and fingerprints of passengers, which has further complicated the situation.
In parliament, where she was questioned about the long queues at border controls at Portuguese airports, the measures adopted and the expected timeframes for their resolution, the minister also said that 236 Public Security Police officers are currently assigned to Humberto Delgado (Lisbon) airport, while the requirement is for 270.
