Passenger Dies at Lanzarote Airport | Passport Queue Concerns

Arrecife, Lanzarote – A tragic incident at Lanzarote Airport has reignited serious concerns about passenger welfare during extended passport control waits in the Canary Islands.

According to local reports from La Voz de Lanzarote, a passenger died shortly after landing at the airport. Emergency services attended the scene, but despite intervention, the individual sadly passed away. The circumstances surrounding the death are being reported locally and are understood to have occurred after arrival into the terminal.

While this is first and foremost a tragedy for the individual and their family, the incident has again brought attention to a growing issue at Canary Islands airports — long queues at passport control, particularly affecting non-EU passengers since Brexit.

The EES Rollback – But The Delays Remain

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which was expected to introduce biometric border checks, has officially been rolled back until September 2026.

However, despite the postponement of full EES implementation, manual passport stamping is still required for UK and other non-EU travellers entering Spain. And this is where the pressure point lies.

With the Canary Islands being one of Europe’s busiest winter sun destinations, the current infrastructure is struggling to cope.

On peak days, airports can see up to 17 flights landing within an 80-minute window, leading to queues that sometimes stretch beyond two hours.

The Busiest Days to Arrive in the Canary Islands

Mr TravelON has been tracking patterns across the islands and has identified the busiest arrival days at major airports:

• Lanzarote – Thursday & Sunday

• Tenerife – Friday & Saturday

• Gran Canaria – Tuesday & Saturday

• Fuerteventura – Wednesday & Saturday

When multiple UK flights land back-to-back, the passport control area becomes overwhelmed.

Passengers have reported:

• Waiting over two hours

• Limited access to water

• No nearby toilet facilities once in line

• Standing for extended periods without seating

For elderly travellers, families with children, or those with underlying medical conditions, this can quickly become a serious issue.

A Winter Sun Destination Under Pressure

The Canary Islands rely heavily on winter tourism. From November through March, passenger numbers surge as travellers escape colder northern climates.

Yet many airport arrival halls were never designed to process the post-Brexit manual stamping requirements at this scale.

Even though the full biometric EES system has been delayed, the current stop-gap system is already stretching staff and facilities beyond safe limits.

Surely this raises urgent questions:

• Are there enough border officers on peak days?

• Should flight scheduling be better staggered?

• Why are there no welfare provisions in long queue scenarios?

• Should emergency medical access be easier within the arrivals line?

Essential Safety Advice for Travellers

Mr TravelON is urging anyone travelling to the Canary Islands to be prepared, especially on peak arrival days.

Practical safety advice:

✔ Carry essential medication in your hand luggage
✔ Keep water accessible
✔ Have snacks for children or diabetics
✔ Keep ID and travel insurance documents on you
✔ Use airport toilets before entering passport control queues
✔ If feeling unwell, alert airport staff immediately
✔ Call 112 in Spain in an emergency

Most arrivals are smooth outside of peak landing windows, but on busy days delays should be expected.

What Needs to Happen Now?

While this recent incident is a personal tragedy and not solely attributable to queue delays, it highlights a wider issue: airport passenger welfare during extended border processing times.

If queues exceeding two hours are becoming predictable on certain days, there must be contingency planning:

• Temporary welfare stations

• Drinking water availability

• Clear signage on expected wait times

• Priority medical access routes

• Better coordination between airlines and border authorities

With EES now postponed until September 2026, there is time to get this right.

But something clearly needs to change before the next winter season.

Mr TravelON’s Message

The Canary Islands remain one of the safest and most welcoming destinations in Europe. The vast majority of arrivals are straightforward.

However, on peak days — especially:

• Thursday & Sunday in Lanzarote

• Friday & Saturday in Tenerife

• Tuesday & Saturday in Gran Canaria

• Wednesday & Saturday in Fuerteventura

— travellers should expect delays and prepare accordingly.

This is not about creating panic.

It is about being realistic, prepared, and informed.

Travel should start with excitement — not anxiety in a two-hour queue without facilities.

TravelON World will continue to monitor the situation and report on any updates regarding passport control procedures across the Canary Islands.

About the author

Mr TravelON is the brand ambassador for TravelON and one of the most watched travel experts in the Canary Islands, with more than 400000 followers across YouTube, TikTok and Facebook. Mr TravelON has worked in tourism for over 25 years with tour operators, excursion suppliers and the local Canary Islands tourism board. He is on the ground in tourist destinations filming content, reviewing tours and talking with holidaymakers every day. His advice comes from real experience and direct contact with the island. As a Travel expert and editor he brings the most up to date travel news.