By the end of this month, the number of National Police officers manning the passport controls will be increased from 12 to at least 25 and there will be a total of 40 automatic scanners operating in Terminal A.
However, the Spanish Police Confederation, while welcoming the increase in security personnel, still consider that the Spanish airports authority, Aena, needs to contract more members of the National Police to ensure that the chaos caused last year is avoided and that passport controls are much quicker and smoother this summer.
According to the spokesperson for the confederation at Son San Joan Airport, Norberto Centeno, the police union asked for a total of 60 more members of the National Police to be on duty at Palma airport this summer, but they have only managed to secure 25.
He said that two of the other main problems are a general shortage in National Police numbers plus the expensive cost of housing and living for those officers who have to be deployed from the mainland for the season.
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I travelled from Palma on Friday morning, 10.50 flight time, and passport control had 4 officers working yet the queue was still over 100 metres long and five persons wide meaning it was very slow being processed through to the departure lounge. Many travellers were clearly stressed out worrying about getting to their departure gates.. . .
There was a plan last year. Frustrate the british? I don't know but when I was cought up in the chaos in July there was only one kiosk in operation and only one passport official inside. Someone somewhere knew that was going to be a disaster
It is an attempt to alleviate a major frustrating problem at the Airport. But I doubt it will work. Many will arrive very late to their accommodations. Many will miss returning Flights, unless they return to the Airport very early.
Finger print recognition now. Feels very controlling. Long queues are inevitable as the layout of the machines has not been planned for "Just In Time" management. A lot of wasted time between each of us walking to the machines.If you are not good at standing a long time I would arrange Travel Assistance - at least that way you are whizzed through passport control avoiding the queues.