Spain Creates Special Brit Queues
Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza will soon implement special border control areas just for British travelers. Four major Spanish airports are also launching special queues for Brits to streamline entry during peak periods and address growing concerns about summer travel congestion post-Brexit.
This move is a direct response to the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires non-EU nationals, including Brits, to have their fingerprints and a facial image recorded on their first entry into the Schengen Area. Simulations of the new biometric checks predicted that without infrastructural changes, airport queues could stretch beyond four hours during peak times. The dedicated non-Schengen zones are part of a massive, long-term investment plan by Spanish airport operator Aena. The DORA III investment program allocates €1.5 billion for Málaga, €621.6 million for Palma, €229.7 million for Ibiza, and €170.7 million for Menorca for the period between 2027 and 2031. These airport upgrades will create single access points to non-Schengen boarding areas, increasing space by roughly 29% to accommodate new EES kiosks, additional e-gates, and more staffed booths. At Málaga Airport alone, the expansion will nearly double the terminal size, increase departure passport control space by 500%, and more than double the security screening areas. The goal is to significantly cut processing times. In the Balearic Islands, Aena aims to reduce peak summer wait times from 45 minutes to under 20 minutes. Construction in the Balearics is set to be phased to avoid major disruptions during holiday periods, with some work starting as early as April 2026. This overhaul is funded by an increase in airport fees, a move that has drawn criticism from some budget airlines. Ryanair has warned that the higher charges may lead to increased ticket prices and has even threatened to cut one million seats on its Spanish routes in response. The EES system began a phased rollout in late 2025 and is expected to be fully operational by autumn 2026. While the major airport construction projects are scheduled for 2027-2031, the implementation of dedicated lanes and new equipment is being expedited to manage the initial impact of the new biometric border requirements. Since Brexit, UK citizens are treated as "third-country" nationals and must have their passports stamped upon entering and exiting the Schengen zone. The EES automates this process and tracks compliance with the 90-day stay limit for non-residents within any 180-day period. This new system is a precursor to another travel requirement, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Expected to launch in 2027, ETIAS will require visa-exempt travelers, including those from the UK, to obtain pre-travel authorization online for a fee.
