Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport has taken the dramatic step of deploying soldiers to bolster its border control, aiming to slash excessive passenger waiting times. This urgent measure follows the suspension of the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) last month after an unannounced inspection uncovered serious security deficiencies.
Military Reinforcements Arrive at Key Hub
On Tuesday, 24 soldiers from Portugal's National Republican Guard (GNR) were stationed in the airport's arrivals area. This deployment, approved by the government, sees the soldiers working in flexible shifts, typically in teams of ten with a supervisor. They have been tasked with checking passenger documentation.
These troops are not new to border work; they possess certified training in border control. To prepare for the airport operation, they received an additional two days of administrative instruction from the Public Security Police (PSP), the National Civil Aviation Authority, and airport operator ANA. It remains unclear how long this military support will remain in place.
This is not the first time the busy hub has required extra manpower. Over the Christmas and New Year period, 80 PSP officers were already sent to the airport to manage lengthy queues of arriving passengers.
Security Flaws Force EU Digital Border Rollout to Halt
The backdrop to this military deployment is a significant setback for the EU's new border management system. The Portuguese government suspended the rollout of the EES for non-EU citizens for three months in December to prevent even worse congestion.
This decision came directly after a European Commission assessment team conducted a surprise inspection between 15 and 17 December. Their report concluded there were 'serious deficiencies' in border security control at Lisbon airport.
The inspectors identified major flaws, including poor-quality first and second-line border checks. They also flagged alarmingly long queues, with waiting times reportedly reaching up to seven hours. Crucially, they noted that border controls were frequently being simplified without notifying EU authorities, leading to an 'absence of exit controls' at the airport.
Portugal's Minister of Internal Affairs later admitted in parliament that the introduction of the EES 'went very badly', citing planning failures, a lack of staff, and space constraints at the airport.
Wider Disruption Across European Airports
The problems in Lisbon are part of a broader pattern of disruption across the European Union since the EES began its gradual implementation in October. The system requires non-EU passport holders to submit fingerprints and have their photograph taken upon entry, with biometrics verified on departure and all future visits.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of Airports Council International (ACI), stated that the system is 'severely impacting the passenger experience', with airports in France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain being especially affected.
The ACI has called for an urgent EU review of the EES, warning of 'widespread disruption' even though only a small proportion of travellers are currently undergoing the digital registration. From 9 January, the proportion was set to rise sharply to 35%, aiming for 100% by April. Mr Jankovec warned this increase would 'inevitably result in much more severe congestion and systemic disruption', potentially creating 'serious safety hazards' at airports.
For the many British holidaymakers for whom Portugal is a top destination, the situation at its busiest airport—which handles over 35 million passengers annually—will be a key concern as travel plans are made for the year ahead.
