Lanzarote airport overhaul aims to cut chaos after wave of complaints
César Manrique Airport to double border staff after long queues spark criticism from travellers
Lanzarote’s only airport is set to get a much-needed shake-up after mounting complaints about endless queues and chaotic conditions.César Manrique Airport handled a staggering 8.7 million passengers last year, despite ongoing doubts about whether it’s really equipped to deal with those kinds of numbers, especially when it comes to border control.
Much of the pressure comes from a surge in tourism, particularly from the UK. British holidaymakers made up a huge portion of last year’s visitors, outnumbering German tourists by more than six to one - 1.6 million compared to 275,000.
While the airport does have its fair share of glowing five-star reviews on Google, others tell a very different story. “Chaotic and unorganised,” said one fed-up traveller. “I was waiting in the queue for bag check and boarding pass for an hour. The woman at the desk was chatting to other staff the entire time even though there were two long queues of people waiting.”
Another visitor described arriving on a Sunday afternoon, only to face an hour-long wait at passport control. “It was a frustrating start to our first trip to Lanzarote. I can only imagine how much worse it gets in summer.” One simply called it the “world’s worst airport”.
Now, in response to growing criticism, 45 new immigration officers are set to be deployed to the airport — effectively doubling the current team. The move should make a noticeable difference at passport control and help speed things up for arriving passengers.
A spokesperson for the Canary Islands government said calls for more staff had been made for several years. They added that these officers must be focused solely on border control, rather than being pulled into other roles. “I believe this decision may have been made in response to fears of potential sanctions from the European Union,” they said, referencing ongoing complaints about how non-EU travellers are processed.
Though the move is likely to be welcomed by tourists, especially Brits fed up with long delays, it comes at a time when many locals are calling for fewer, not more, visitors.
Last year saw a wave of anti-tourist protests across Spain, with Lanzarote playing a prominent role despite receiving fewer visitors than Tenerife or Gran Canaria. Protesters took to the streets under the slogan “Lanzarote has a limit”, voicing concerns over the housing crisis, limited water supplies, and overcrowding of natural areas.
But not everyone agrees. Many local businesses that depend on tourism pushed back with messages of support in their windows, saying “Lanzarote hearts tourists”.
“Tourism has been and will be our main sector,” said Augusto Ferreira, a local restaurant owner. “It’s helped us grow and enjoy a better life... and just like our island, it must be protected.”
Photo by Asad/Pexels
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