Tenerife Airport Chaos: Brits Endure 'Horrendous' Three-Hour Tarmac Queues
British holidaymakers visiting the popular Spanish island of Tenerife have reported experiencing 'horrendous' and extensive queues at Tenerife South Airport, with some facing delays of up to three hours while stranded on the tarmac. The disruptions have impacted both arrivals and departures, casting a shadow over the start of many vacations.
Elderly Passengers Among Those Affected
Unhappy tourists have detailed instances of being stuck in automatic doors and forced to queue outside on the airport tarmac, with elderly passengers reportedly kept waiting for two hours. Anne Ramsey, a frequent visitor to Tenerife, shared her ordeal during a trip with her 90-year-old mother on January 23.
"They had to keep us on the transfer bus as the queue into the terminal was queuing outside, and there was nowhere for anyone else to go," Ramsey explained. She described scenes of chaos where people became trapped in glass doors that repeatedly opened and shut in an attempt to manage passenger numbers.
Root Cause: New EU Entry/Exit System
The issues largely stem from the newly implemented Entry/Exit System (EES), which British travellers have been required to use when entering EU countries since October 12, 2025. This system appears to have contributed significantly to the prolonged waits at the Spanish island's airport.
Local news outlet Canarian Weekly reports that only five of the 36 new eGates are currently operational at Tenerife South Airport, exacerbating the bottleneck. Technical difficulties have further compounded the problem, with eGates crashing and requiring passengers to wait until they are restored to functionality.
Contrasting Experiences Highlight Inconsistency
Recent holidaymakers have reported vastly different experiences at the airport. Larry Hicken, a member of the Tenerife Holiday Forum Facebook group, documented his arrival on January 26, landing at 4pm but not clearing border control until 6.10pm after facing extensive queues.
Conversely, Pip Jane Tolliss described a smooth arrival on December 10, 2025, where she passed through in just 10 minutes with only a photo taken, though she noted busier conditions on her return journey on January 3. "Having spoken to many people during our stay, it seems the experience can be very different from day to day," Tolliss remarked.
Airport Operator Points to Border Control Responsibility
When contacted about the ongoing issues, airport operator AENA clarified that border control falls under the jurisdiction of Policía Nacional. A spokesperson stated: "The European Commission determined that the Entry Exit System starts on October 12. Its implementation will be gradual over a period of 180 days, until April 10, when its deployment will be fully completed."
This phased rollout may explain the current operational challenges, but it offers little consolation to travellers facing significant disruptions. Representatives of Policía Nacional España have been approached for comment regarding the border control delays.
Management of Queues Called into Question
During peak times, some passengers have observed inefficiencies in queue management. Anne Ramsey noted that during her January visit, family lanes designed for groups with children under 12 were less busy as it was term time, but there was "no attempt to move people from the longer queue to the shorter one."
The inconsistency in experiences is further highlighted by Ramsey's own travels: her party breezed through on December 19 from Glasgow Prestwick Airport, yet faced severe delays just weeks later on a flight from Manchester.
As the implementation of the EES system continues until April 10, travellers are advised to prepare for potential delays and monitor airport conditions closely when planning trips to Tenerife and other EU destinations.
