Lisbon Airport queues raise concerns for Portugal's tourism sector

Extended queues at Lisbon Airport have left many passengers, especially those without EU passports, waiting for hours. Travel‑agency officials warn that the delays could damage Portugal’s image in high‑value non‑Schengen markets such as the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil and Canada, leading to loss of confidence and potential shifts to competing destinations.

The industry points to shortages of staff, inadequate technology and hardware, and limited processing capacity as the main causes, rather than the new EU Entry/Exit System. Representatives of the airport operator and the government have been urged to implement faster, more transparent improvements before the summer travel peak.