Border control at Lisbon Airport not subject to pressure from ANA, according to the denial by the company
In a recent development, the Association of Public Security Police Personnel (ASPP/PSP) has raised concerns about alleged pressure from ANA Aeroportos de Portugal to ease border control at Lisbon Airport. The airport authority, however, denies these allegations.
ANA Aeroportos de Portugal is said to aim at reducing waiting times by easing border control, but no new information about this objective has been disclosed. The ASPP/PSP, on the other hand, has emphasized a lack of recognition and financial compensation for agents working at the borders, and warned about the exhaustion of police officers due to the high volume of passengers, a number that continues to increase.
The Executive has defined immigration control as one of its priorities, but no new information about this definition is available. The ASPP/PSP finds it unacceptable that the Government would give in to the interests of a private company for the sake of increasing profits, and has vowed to prevent any private operator from interfering with essential public services, particularly in safeguarding national security and the Schengen Area.
Border control at Humberto Delgado Airport is the exclusive responsibility of the State, according to ANA Aeroportos de Portugal. In early June, the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, promised to resolve queue problems at Lisbon and Faro airports within the next two weeks after a new system comes into operation.
Images showing long queues of passengers from countries outside the Schengen Area waiting for several hours for immigration control at Faro airport, in addition to Lisbon airport, have been circulating. ANA Aeroportos de Portugal has expressed concern over waiting times of over two hours at arrivals and reaching four hours.
The ASPP/PSP has stated that ensuring the required level of security and control under the Schengen Regulation while speeding up traveller flow at Lisbon Airport is technically impossible without risking the entire European community. ANA Aeroportos de Portugal has issued a response to the allegations made by ASPP, but no new information about this response is currently available.
Despite extensive searches, no public record or reliable source has disclosed any official conflicts or allegations regarding border control responsibilities or operations among ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, ASPP/PSP, and the government at these airports. However, the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) has increased fines related to nighttime flights at Humberto Delgado Airport, indicating tougher control over airport operations, but unrelated specifically to border control or police disputes.
This ongoing dispute between ANA Aeroportos de Portugal and ASPP/PSP promises to be a significant issue in the coming weeks, with both parties emphasizing their commitment to maintaining security and efficiency at Portugal's major airports.
Finance ministers in Portugal are considering tax reforms to address the significant financial concerns raised by the Association of Public Security Police Personnel (ASPP/PSP) regarding the lack of recognition and compensation for agents working at border controls.
General-news outlets have reported that the Portugal's business community, amidst the ongoing dispute between ANA Aeroportos de Portugal and ASPP/PSP, is growing increasingly anxious about the potential impact on Portugal's image as a reliable destination for travel and investment.
In addition, political analysts have suggested that the government's handling of this situation could have wider implications for public trust and the administration's ability to manage other business-related matters, including the negotiation of future infrastructure projects and partnership deals.
