Waiting times at Lisbon Airport have eased significantly in recent days following the suspension of the new entry and exit control system in the Schengen Area and the reinforcement of operational resources, according to the country’s airline industry body.
The improvement was confirmed the Associação das Companhias Aéreas and reported ECO, after months of intense disruption that saw passengers facing extreme delays during peak travel periods.
Paulo Geisler, speaking on behalf of the airline association, said that as of Wednesday morning, waiting times at Lisbon Airport were registering peaks of around one hour. While still uncomfortable for travellers, this marks a substantial improvement compared to December, when queues of six to seven hours were reported at passport control and security checkpoints.
The reduction follows the temporary suspension of the new Schengen entry and exit system, which had been introduced as part of a wider European effort to modernise border controls. The system, designed to digitally track the movements of non European travellers entering and leaving the Schengen zone, was expected to streamline processing in the long term. However, its rollout coincided with staff shortages, technical bottlenecks and seasonal travel surges, leading to severe congestion at several major airports, including Lisbon.
In response to mounting criticism from passengers, airlines and tourism operators, authorities moved to pause the system’s implementation and reinforce staffing levels. Additional border officers and support staff were deployed, while operational procedures were adjusted to prioritise passenger flow during busy hours.
Airlines operating at Lisbon Airport welcomed the improvement but cautioned that challenges remain. Industry representatives say sustained progress will depend on long term investment in infrastructure, staffing and coordination between airport operators, border authorities and airlines. They also stressed the importance of avoiding abrupt system changes during high demand periods, particularly at airports already operating near capacity.
Lisbon Airport has long been under pressure due to rising passenger numbers and limited physical space. As Portugal’s main international gateway, it handles a large share of the country’s tourism traffic, especially during holiday seasons. Delays at border control not only affect departing and arriving passengers but also create knock on effects for flight schedules, crew rotations and airline costs.
Tourism and business groups say the recent easing of queues offers some relief but warn that reputational damage from earlier disruptions could linger. Long waiting times during December were widely shared on social media, with images of crowded terminals raising concerns among travellers and tour operators.
Authorities have indicated that the Schengen entry and exit system will eventually be reintroduced once technical and staffing issues are resolved. The challenge, analysts say, will be ensuring that future rollouts are gradual and properly resourced, particularly at airports like Lisbon that face structural constraints.
For passengers, the current situation represents a return to more predictable travel conditions, even if waits of up to an hour remain common at peak times. Airlines are advising travellers to continue arriving early at the airport and to monitor official updates, especially during busy travel periods.
While the suspension of the system has brought short term relief, the episode has highlighted deeper issues in airport capacity and border management. Without broader reforms, industry figures warn that Lisbon Airport could face similar pressures again as passenger numbers continue to grow.
For now, however, the reduced queues offer a welcome change for travellers after a difficult end to the year, easing pressure on both passengers and airport operations as the winter travel season continues.
