In a statement, the low-cost airline indicated that between July 11th and 13th, "more than 120 passengers missed their flights from Porto, Faro, and Lisbon airports due to excessive delays at border control," caused by the lack of staff.
At the same time, "passengers arriving in Portugal faced wait times of up to 90 minutes at passport control," the Irish airline states, stressing that these "are not isolated cases" and that the "Portuguese government must urgently resolve these staffing issues, especially during the peak summer season, when passenger volumes peak."
"If no action is taken, delays will continue and more passengers will unfairly miss their flights," warns Ryanair, calling on the government led by Luís Montenegro to take "immediate action."
The airline also emphasises that if no action is taken, "delays will continue and more passengers will unfairly miss their flights."
In early June, the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, said that the queue problems at Lisbon and Faro airports should be resolved within the next two weeks, following the implementation of a new system.
These statements came after the successive release of images in previous weeks of long lines of passengers from non-Schengen countries at Faro and Lisbon airports, waiting for several hours for immigration control.
English
Nederlands
Deutsch
Français
Español
Italiano
Svenska
Pусский
中文
Türkçe
Português
Polski
عربي
Suomi
עִברִית
Português (Brasil)
We live in the Algarve and dread the airport experience on the one time per year when we visit relatives in Scotland. This region relies on tourism, the majority coming through Faro airport from outside the Schengen zone are from the UK. Without a doubt, those who stand for 2 or 3 hours at passport control on arrival and/or do the same going out, will holiday in a more civilised country in future.
By Bill from Algarve on 17 Jul 2025, 18:20
My wife and I lossed 5O0€ we got to faro airport 3 hrs early ,they said a delay of 1 hr getting through passport control,it took us 6 hrs only 2 staff on it took us 8 hrs to get out again.DISGRACE!.
By Peter lachanudis from Algarve on 17 Jul 2025, 19:46
We flew into Lisbon in June for a two week vacation in Portugal. We stood in line at Customs for three hours. No water, no air flow, thousands of people in the same area the whole time. Missed our train to Porto because of waiting in line at Customs.
By Jennifer from USA on 18 Jul 2025, 01:54
May I suggest that don't come again !
By Claudio from Lisbon on 18 Jul 2025, 05:52
The delays are not just due to not enough border control points. It is also due to the airports allowing too msny flights to arrive too close to each other.
The airports have not allowed for this increased influx of passengers. Therefore there are not enough entry points
By Harvey Goldsmith from UK on 18 Jul 2025, 09:42
Nothing new here.
The airport companies blamed the government for not providing enough immigration control staff, the immigration authorities blamed the airports for scheduling too many flights in a tight timescale. I have been at Faro airport when three flights have been booked into the same departure gate with only minutes between flights. But this could be due to lack of airline ground staff.
By David Peter Clark from Algarve on 18 Jul 2025, 10:38
Claudio it's either "May I suggest that you don't come again" or May I suggest, don't come again" Hope that helps you going forward in the real world
By Fiona Spreadborough from UK on 18 Jul 2025, 11:10
Most of the passengers are young enough to put up with the queues, but at 82 years old, I found it very difficult as I suffer with Neuropathy which makes it painful to stand still for more than a few minutes. The border force are only 50% staffed, that's disgraceful and the main reason for the long queues.
By Colin Creed from UK on 18 Jul 2025, 12:02
Arrived at Faro on 15 July to long queues at passport control. We were with our son and his wife our 16 month old granddaughter and we're directed to a priority lane because of the baby. 90 minutes later we got yo the desk and the officer refused to deal with my wife and I passports and said only parents and child.we had to queue again elsewhere. Se should clearly not have all been dire ted to this line but the airport staff ad oficers were not interested. Now I see staff are sticking throughout the summer! Algarve for the last 30 years but will think again before we come again.
By David evans from UK on 18 Jul 2025, 15:53
We travel often in and out of Faro airport We are residents but like many other residents still have to stand in line with our British Passports and hundreds of tourists It is a total nightmare The government must take notice People will not come here on holiday The economy will suffer I dread when I have to travel now back to the uk to see my family and friends ! Mrs Clayman
By LINDA CLAYMAN from Algarve on 18 Jul 2025, 16:12
Wednesday ( 17.07) was 2 hours at the security in Faro. Would have been much worse if they had not opened the totally empty FastTrack Kiosk after an hour. And that was midweek!! Got talking in the queue to a Portuguese businessmann who was had to change an afternoon meeting because of the delay. He works in property in Turkey. Said he was through the customs there in 15min. He was to put it exceedingly mildly not immpressed with his fellow countrymen. Imagine how it will be this weekend with the summer holidays in Britian starting!! Portugal will lose many tourists if this continues.
By John Seymour from Algarve on 18 Jul 2025, 16:23
With €27bn income from tourism projected to increase by 9% this year, the suggestion that tourists do not visit is a little myopic , don’t you think Claudio ?
By Yitshak from Algarve on 18 Jul 2025, 17:04
My amazing visit to Lisbon in March was soured by my experience at Lisbon airport. Absolutely appalling service and communication! I missed my scheduled 6:45 p.m. return flight as a direct result of inconsistent communication and poor service at Lisbon Airport. The flight I booked for the following day was then delayed for 4.5 hours. The list of failings is too long to detail fully in this forum.
It truly beggars belief that a European country like Portugal, that prides itself on its tourism industry, can allow its major international airport to operate with such staggering inefficiency. The service I experienced at Lisbon Airport was, without question, the worst I have ever encountered. I’ve travelled extensively and passed through many airports around the world, yet none have come close to the level of disorganisation and poor communication I witnessed there.
By Icence from UK on 18 Jul 2025, 20:18
My wife and I flew out of Faro in May to Vienna. No issues, but then we have EU travel documents. We were previously in Huelva, then traveled to Olhão. In Huelva, I didn't notice a single Brit, in Olhão, they were ubiquitous. I looked at the Faro airport website and noticed there were 48 arrivals that day from the UK. That's about 8500 people. Governments can't just hire more full-time immigration staff for seasonal travel increases. It's the same in the US. I used to live in Chicago. Entering ORD in the international terminal in the summer once, we waited over 2 hours.
By kazys skirpa from Other on 19 Jul 2025, 07:53
It’s a complete disgrace. But…. Ryanair complaining of poor service is … well, something.
By Fabi from Algarve on 19 Jul 2025, 09:25
It's not just Lisbon and Faro. We had a 3 hour wait for immigration when entering Portugal at Porto on the 26th June.
There were 3 none schengen flights within 35 mins and only 3 immigration officers on duty. When we got to the front the immigration officers blamed the government for not employing enough officers.
By John Cummins from UK on 19 Jul 2025, 12:33
I flew into Lisbon on June 9th and returned on June 21st. There were no problems at passport control other than those you see at any airport .
By Angela Collins from UK on 19 Jul 2025, 12:44
We arrived in good time at faro on July 11th . 2 cases to checkin at ryanair, even though we had boarding cards were told couldn't just do the bag drop had to join a queue with only only 2 check ins open. Took 30 minutes . Then security took 40 minutes. Got to the gate with 17 minutes to go before flight to be told we couldn't go. Looked on tracker and flight went 8 minutes early , so come on ryanair you aren't helping the situation or perfect
By Ron sykes from UK on 19 Jul 2025, 13:22
Wonderful Brexit! Lucky with my EU passport
By John from Algarve on 19 Jul 2025, 15:22
Portugal is going to lose far more money in tourism than the cost of more immigration/passport control people. At even a wage of 20K Euros per year, 20 extra border patrol people (only needed 8:30am to 5:30pm, really) would cost 400K Euros annually. That is about what 50 people per month spend in Portugal, calcualted annually. So if 50 people decide to go elswhere, which far more will, it's a negative to Portugal.
Now factor in the global embarassment, truly damaging Portugal's image.
A wake up call is needed to Portugal's government. This coutnry depends on tourism.
Mike S. - Albufeira
By Mark Dahncke from Algarve on 19 Jul 2025, 16:10
We arrived 3hrs early and missed our flight on 30th June at 06.20am. Two Ryan air flights were due to depart at 06.20 one to Exeter and one to Birmingham. I’m not sure how that is possible with only one runway? Anyway we were treated like animals, queuing for hours with no water with an autistic son and daughter. 3 desks open for non Schengen countries snd 2 other desks for EU/worldwide which had no queue. It took a further 2hrs to get out of the airport. The additional cost of flights/accommodation cost over £1200 yet no one is taking responsibility or offering compensation.This isn’t a one off it’s been happening for months and families are left with huge bills due to the inadequacies of passport control. The airport is simply not fit for purpose, how on earth are they still getting away with leaving thousands out of pocket?
By Amanda salt from UK on 19 Jul 2025, 18:11
After several similar experiences it is obvious that there are immense labour problems with immigration staff, they are consciously under staffing the booths and going as slow as possible to cause maximum frustration and disruption to Algarve tourism. Given that tourism is the regions primary industry, why people would consciously damage their region is the burning question , the arguments with management must run deep indeed. Better fix it soon though it will criple tourism and send visitors elsewhere especially Spain , no more talk and platitudes. !
By Richard O’Donnell from Algarve on 19 Jul 2025, 18:41
I've been getting in and out of Portugal for over 8 years, a few times per year. And as an overseas resident I must go through immigration every time. There's no progress to date, it's been rather worse than better over the years, showing how poorly the services are managed by whoever is is charge if that system. I recently spent 2:45h on the grueling immigration lines in Lisbon, something unthinkable for a country that considers tourism as a serious industry.
Just amazing how much and how long officials have been talking about this, and nothing effective actually happens!
By JL Mor from Other on 20 Jul 2025, 07:48