Despite constant calls from the UK travel industry for Spain to follow Greece’s example and suspend the new EES entry and exit controls for the summer season in order to make travel easier and smoother for British holiday makers and other third-party visitors, little action has been taken.
Spanish airport authority AENA has instructed staff to take minimal steps at peak periods but, as is the case at Palma airport, a strike by the assisted traveller service, has meant that much fewer will be fast tracked through border controls.
Jet2 has issued a statement regarding the Palma strike, talks to resolve the dispute broke down on Tuesday night, on its website: “We are aware of a planned PRM (Passengers with Reduced Mobility) industrial action at Palma de Mallorca Airport, due to begin on Monday 25 May. The strike is scheduled to take place in phased time slots throughout the week, and a full 24 hour strike is planned for Saturday’s.
“If you are travelling with PRM assistance, please be aware that delays may occur at the airport. Check-in will close 40 minutes prior to your scheduled time of departure. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we look forward to welcoming you onboard.”
And according to The Advantage Travel Partnership, following Greece’s decision to remove EES requirements for UK travellers, “we have seen a clear and consistent uplift in demand, with Greece’s share of sales rising from 7.7 percent in mid-April to 9.8 percent by the end of the month.
In contrast, we’ve seen a softening in share for typically dominant markets like Spain and the Islands. This shift suggests that travellers are actively factoring border friction into their decision-making, opting for destinations where the arrival experience is smoother and more predictable.”