Lisbon, July 6, 2025 (Lusa) - ANA said on Sunday that it did not pressure the government or the PSP police force to ease border controls at Lisbon airport, as suggested by the Police Professionals Trade Union Association (ASPP/PSP).
"ANA categorically affirms that it is not pressuring the government or the PSP to reduce border controls at Lisbon airport," said an official source at ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, in a response sent to the Lusa news agency.
The airport operator emphasised that border control is the sole responsibility of the state and maintains “full respect” for its operation.
"With waiting times of over two hours on arrivals, reaching up to four hours, ANA has, above all, expressed its great concern for passengers," it stressed, noting that "the ASPP responds with no indication of sharing this concern and offers no response to such long waiting times".
On Saturday, the ASPP/PSP asked the government to remain firm in the face of alleged pressure from ANA Aeroportos and to maintain robust border controls in Lisbon to keep waiting times short.
In a statement, the ASPP/PSP said it was aware that ANA Aeroportos de Portugal “has been encouraging the Public Security Police and the Government to streamline border controls in Lisbon, in a clear effort to shorten waiting times”.
The PSP union emphasised that the government should stand firm against the interests of a private company “whose sole purpose is to increase its profits”, at a time when the government has defined immigration control as one of its priorities.
The ASPP/PSP said that the current system can maintain the security and control level required by the Schengen Regulation, but only by managing the flow of travellers at Lisbon Airport in a way that safeguards the entire European community.
The union warned that “police officers on duty at the borders are exhausted” because they have always handled a remarkably high volume of passengers, which continues to rise.
The ASPP/PSP stated that these officers “deserve greater recognition and financial compensation” and stressed that “we will do everything necessary to ensure that a private operator does not interfere with essential public services, especially in safeguarding national security and the Schengen Area”.
In early June, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz announced that the new system would come into operation within the next two weeks, resolving the queues at Lisbon and Faro airports.
These statements followed the successive release, in previous weeks, of images showing long queues of passengers from countries outside the Schengen Area at Faro and Lisbon airports, who waited for several hours for immigration control.
The Portuguese Hotel Association (AHP) and the Portuguese Tourism Confederation (CTP) told Lusa that they believe the summer will be positive and that airports will manage any increased demand efficiently.
MPE/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
