Ryanair has declined to take responsibility after 89 passengers were left behind at Lanzarote Airport when long passport control queues caused them to miss their flight, reigniting concerns about ongoing border control bottlenecks in Spain’s Canary Islands.
Airline Points to Border Staffing
The incident occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 25, after travellers were reportedly stuck in lengthy lines at border checks, with delays blamed on limited staffing and slow processing times. The flight from Lanzarote directed to Bristol departed leaving half of the passengers unable to board despite being at the airport in time. Ryanair said the situation was outside its control, pointing to airport border management rather than airline operations.
Passengers described confusion and frustration as queues stretched through the terminal, with some claiming only a small number of officers were processing large volumes of outbound travellers. Ryanair maintained that it cannot delay flights indefinitely due to airport processing issues and said airport authorities are responsible for ensuring adequate border control staffing.
The episode comes amid heightened scrutiny of airport procedures in popular Spanish tourist destinations. Airport authorities in Spain have previously acknowledged pressure points during peak travel seasons but say staffing levels are adjusted based on expected demand.
Canary Islands Face Recurring Queue Chaos
The Lanzarote case is not isolated. Reports over the past year have highlighted repeated passport control delays at Tenerife South Airport, where passengers have described hours-long waits in overcrowded and poorly ventilated areas. UK travellers have shared similar accounts of flights missed or nearly missed due to slow border processing.
Local media have linked some disruption to the rollout of stricter EU entry-exit checks, which require more detailed passport verification for non-EU nationals. In several cases, queues reportedly formed due to limited open desks despite heavy passenger volumes.
Tourism officials warn that recurring border bottlenecks risk damaging the Canary Islands’ reputation as a smooth and reliable holiday destination. With millions of British and European tourists travelling through Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria each year, efficient border operations remain critical.
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