Latest news with #MalagaAirport
Dublin Live
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Dublin Live
Irish tourist mocks Brits as shares 'major' difference when he flies to Malaga
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A cheeky tourist has flaunted the special treatment Irish passport holders receive after touching down abroad. Comedian Peter Flanagan found himself breezing through a deserted queue at Malaga Airport, leaving UK citizens lined up for non-EU border control. Mocking the waiting Brits, he quipped: "The humble and brave country of Ireland. Look at that now, oh yeah, that's good, that's good." Since Britain left the EU in 2020 following the 2016 Brexit vote, Brits have had to join a different queue to enter EU nations. As part of Brexit, Brits lost their free movement privilege that EU members enjoy. In the comments section on his TikTok, one viewer noted: "Yes, UK passport holders will be able to use e-gates in the EU, following an agreement between the UK and the EU, though implementation will be phased in starting in October 2025." Another commented: "I showed my Irish passport to UK customs officer and he said at least you have a real passport!". A third remarked: "This is what we voted for. Some of us were educated and knew this kind of thing would happen and didn't vote for this." An additional comment from a user read: "We British people would rather spend an extra 10 minutes waiting for immigration than waste billions to support the EU bureaucracy." It comes after anti-tourism sentiment reached boiling point across Spain, with locals protesting against sky-high rents and a shortage of affordable housing for months on end. In a bold move to voice their frustration, some protesters have resorted to defacing heritage sites with explicit graffiti, including messages like "f***ing tourists" and "get out of our city." One of the historic buildings marred by vandals is the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, a 14th-century edifice that serves as the official residence for the King and Queen during their visits to Majorca. Alongside the Cathedral of Palma, it stands as an iconic symbol of the Balearic Islands' capital. Other victims of the spray-paint attacks include the ancient stone walls near the 'Hort del Rei botanical gardens and Dalt Murada, a beautifully restored manor house. The vandalism has left thousands of tourists who flock to the area each year in utter disbelief, while local tour guides have openly expressed their outrage. Pro Guías Majorca, a tour guide company, has condemned the graffiti as a regrettable assault on Palma's cultural legacy, stating that "there are many ways to protest, as long as the forms are appropriate, and it is an inalienable right. But this is unforgivable." They argue that whoever is responsible for the damage is not only attacking the city but also undermining the very values that define their community. Meanwhile, residents, no strangers to frequent protests and marches against the surge in tourism, have taken to social media platforms to denounce the acts of vandalism. "I am against excess tourism but also against graffiti. One thing does not take away from the other," one person declared. Another voiced their opinion on social media, saying: "Now it turns out that Majorca's number one enemy is the tourist, without thinking that hundreds of thousands of people eat every day thanks to tourists. This should also be considered a hate crime."
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Tourist teases Brits because of difference between EU and UK queue at Spanish airport
Irish comedian Peter Flanagan arrived in Malaga Airport and recorded himself zooming past a queue of Brits who were waiting for non-EU border control A holidaymaker has divulged the advantages of travelling with an Irish passport post-Brexit, as he breezed through immigration at Malaga Airport while a long line of Brits queued for non-EU border control. Comedian Peter Flanagan captured his smooth passage and couldn't resist a cheeky jibe at the longer lines. Mocking the waiting Brits, he quipped: "The humble and brave country of Ireland. Look at that now, oh yeah, that's good, that's good." Since Britain's departure from the EU in 2020, British passport holders have been stripped of the free movement privilege once enjoyed within the EU and now have to join separate queues at EU borders. Reacting to his TikTok footage, one viewer remarked: "Yes, UK passport holders will be able to use e-gates in the EU, following an agreement between the UK and the EU, though implementation will be phased in starting in October 2025." Another chimed in with a personal anecdote: "I showed my Irish passport to UK customs officer and he said at least you have a real passport!". Another Irish citizen agreed, saying: "I showed my Irish passport in France and his words to me were ''Irish very good people, you go here' pointing me to a desk with no one waiting! The other queue was at least 100 long." Another commented on the Brexit vote's consequences: "This is what we voted for. Some of us were educated and knew this kind of thing would happen and didn't vote for this." Yet another defended the wait: "We British people would rather spend an extra 10 minutes waiting for immigration than waste billions to support the EU bureaucracy." One commenter wrote: "hhahahahhHAHAHAH I'm from Malaga, I've been at the airport thousand of times I can tell you FOR A FACT, that that empty lane he just walked into leads to a row of automatic scanners THAT DO NOT WORK (never have) so right after this video switched off, he turned around and got back in the queue."
Irish Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish tourist goes to EU airport and shows off 'major' difference Brits face
A holidaymaker has shared the airport perks those with an Irish passport get to experience after landing overseas compared to Brits. Comedian Peter Flanagan arrived in Malaga Airport and recorded himself filing through an empty queue at Brits waited for non-EU border control. Taunting them as he waltzed through, he said: "The humble and brave country of Ireland. Look at that now, oh yeah, that's good, that's good." Britain officially left the EU in 2020 following the Brexit referendum in 2016. Since then, everyone with a British passport has been forced to queue up to enter a separate passport control queue before entering a country in the EU. As part of the referendum result, Brits lost the right of free movement afforded to EU citizens. Commenting on his TikTok video, one user said: "Yes, UK passport holders will be able to use e-gates in the EU, following an agreement between the UK and the EU, though implementation will be phased in starting in October 2025." Another user added: "I showed my Irish passport to UK customs officer and he said at least you have a real passport!" A third user said: "This is what we voted for. Some of us were educated and knew this kind of thing would happen and didn't vote for this." One more user added: "We British people would rather spend an extra 10 minutes waiting for immigration than waste billions to support the EU bureaucracy." It comes after anti-tourism protests broke out across Spain. For months, locals have been taking a stand against soaring rents and lack of affordable homes. Protesters have even spray-painted heritage sites in their own countries with explicit messages to express their outrage, with some translating to "f***ing tourists" and "get out of our city." One of the defaced buildings is the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, which dates back to the 14th century, and is the official residence of the King and Queen during their stays in Majorca. Together with the Cathedral of Palma, it is a landmark of the capital of the Balearic Islands. Historic stone walls near the 'Hort del Rei botanical gardens and Dalt Murada, a restored manor house, have also been targeted. The area is visited by thousands of tourists who say they are shocked by the messages, while some official tour guides have reiterated their fury. Tour guide company Pro Guías Majorca said that the graffiti is regretful and an attack on Palma's heritage, making it clear that "there are many ways to protest, as long as the forms are appropriate, and it is an inalienable right. But this is unforgivable." They say that the person "who has done this, is against himself and the values that constitute us as a community". Residents who have grown used to repeated demonstrations and protest marches against mass tourism have also taken to the social networks to condemn the vandalism. "I am against excess tourism but also against graffiti. One thing does not take away from the other," said one. Another posted: "Now it turns out that Majorca's number one enemy is the tourist, without thinking that hundreds of thousands of people eat every day thanks to tourists. This should also be considered a hate crime."
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Irish tourist taunts Brits forced to queue for passport control in Spain as he laughs and flashes his EU papers
This is the moment an Irish tourist taunts British holidaymakers forced to stand in a long queue at Malaga Airport. Peter Flanagan, a comedian, taped himself mocking the scores of Brits who were made to line themselves up in the non-EU line at border control. He was heard saying: 'The humble and brave country of Ireland. Look at that now oh yeah that's good.' As he waved his Irish passport walked ahead of the legions of queuing Brits, he repeatedly said: 'Oh yeah, that's good. Come on.' Since January 2020, when Britain officially left the European following the 2016 Brexit referendum, Brits have been forced to go through a separate passport control queue. This is because Brits no longer have access to the right of free movement afforded to citizens of the EU. Brits' travel documents must now be stamped and checked to make sure they have not overstay the 90 in 180 days limit for anyone who isn't part of the EU. Winding queues at EU borders are just part of a broad set of woes British holidaymakers are facing this summer. Over the weekend, thousands of locals marched across Spanish islands to tell Brits to 'go home' as part of widespread protests against so-called 'over tourism'. Holidaymakers were visibly stunned by the dramatic demonstrations in Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza on Sunday afternoon. Thousands of fed-up locals were seen banging their drums and chanting slogans while marching by tourists enjoying their evening meals. The demonstration began at Plaza de España, in the heart of the tourist city, shortly after 6pm. Activists claim more than 30,000 people took to the streets to voice their frustrations about the impact of tourism on the island. Placards held up by marchers read: 'Tourists go home', 'Mallorca is not for sale' and 'Mallorca is not your cash cow… go home.' Footage shows Brits visibly shocked by the demonstrations, while some tourists were seen taking refuge on their accommodation balconies. Other signs read: 'Your vacations, our anxiety.' Dozens of placards read 'tourists go home… refugees welcome', while a group of teenagers could be heard chanting 'tourists go home!' as they marched through the city. Children taking part in the protest were seen carrying water pistols, with plans to spray holidaymakers as they pass on by. Protesters were heard chanting slogans against Airbnb and 'guiris' - the Spanish slang term used to describe Brits and other foreigners. One placard read: 'Rich foreign property buyers go to hell', while another said: 'Enough is enough.' Local resident Oriol, 40, told MailOnline: 'I'm protesting because I don't want 80% of my money to go on rent. 'I don't want to be forced to speak only English or German in by apartment block. 'I don't want my friends to have to go to the mainland when they have children just to be able to afford a dignified life, a lot of us are fed up.'
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
'Homeless villages' in Spain's airports spread to Mallorca and Costa del Sol: Scores of people sleep rough in terminals used by thousands of Brits - with warnings for travellers landing late at night
Urgent action is being demanded as the homelessness situation at a number of popular Spanish holiday airports, including Mallorca and the Costa del Sol, reaches crisis point. At Madrid airport, it's estimated that around 400 people are sleeping rough, with many going out to work in the day and returning each night to sleep. And the shocking scenario is now being reflected elsewhere, both on the mainland and the holiday islands. Malaga and Palma in Mallorca are also dealing with the problem which is said to be causing not only humanitarian issues but safety and health fears too. At Malaga airport, it has even been alleged that staff have been bitten by fleas and bed bugs but this has been denied by the authorities. Workers say they have seen the insects 'climbing up the walls' near the departure gates used by millions of Brits. Airport employees speak of being bitten and having to apply insect repellent before going to work The appeal for urgent action is being led by the CCOO union which has publicly denounced the unsanitary conditions and lack of safety endured by workers at Malaga airport due to the presence of homeless people. The CCOO union section in the airport authority Aena group has warned of 'the serious situation that both workers and airport users have been suffering for months, due to the continued and growing presence of homeless people staying in various areas of the airport facilities, especially in the passenger terminals and transit areas.' The union says that in recent months they have received 'multiple complaints from workers from different groups, including cleaning, security, handling, customer service, shops, and catering, alleging unsanitary conditions, persistent smells, the use of restrooms as overnight areas, accumulation of belongings, occasional aggression, and a lack of effective intervention by the competent authorities.' The airport technically falls under the administration of Madrid City Council, but the regional government of the Community of Madrid admits it is affected by the ongoing incidents - and is also blaming the national government for 'not doing enough' 'There are some bad eggs here who will rob you while you sleep, they usually come out at 3am, they'll take your phone, cigarettes, or whatever they can grab' And it has warned that 'this poses a risk to occupational health and creates an environment of tension and insecurity that is absolutely incompatible with the normal conduct of business at an international airport.' Whilst accepting homelessness is a deep-seated social problem, the union has demanded that this public company, as the manager of these facilities, assume its responsibility to protect the health and safety of its staff and airport users. The CCOO (City of Workers' Commissions) demands that 'it urgently articulate, in coordination with the competent public administrations, such as the City Council, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and the Government Delegation, effective measures to provide an immediate response to this situation.' Aena has responded that it is in 'permanent and coordinated contact with the local and regional public authorities that have administrative powers in matters of social affairs and who are aware of the situation of the homeless people who spend the night at the airport.' 'Airports are designed and equipped exclusively for passenger traffic and, therefore, are not prepared for people to live there. Local and regional public authorities are aware of this reality and are working to improve the situation of homeless people,' they explained. The group added: 'Aena has implemented all necessary measures to ensure the well-being of passengers and airport workers, within its powers.' At Malaga airport, there are around 70 people sleeping homeless each night, the vast majority in the arrivals hall. 'There have been some tense moments with security and some workers, but nothing like what's happening in Madrid,' explains Antonio González, Secretary of Union Policy and Communications for the UGT (General Union of Workers' Unions). 'Things get a bit complicated between 2am and 5am in the morning, when the last flights arrive. Troubled and repeat offenders are monitored by security personnel and cameras.' Mallorca's main airport, Son Sant Joan in the capital of Mallorca is also reporting a substantial increase in homeless people living both inside the terminal and in the car-park. Private security officers have been brought in to try and contain them in groups away from the main arrival and departure section and some of the doors are being locked at night. There have been reports of trouble and thefts from local shops inside the airport. Some of the homeless people have been subsequently evicted. In some cases, matters have escalated, with complaints and restraining orders issued against these homeless people, as reported by airport staff. Over in Madrid-Barajas airport, a 'hidden city' of the homeless has been allowed to balloon over the past 10 years. The number of 'unauthorised occupants' - as they are called by the authorities - at the airport has gone from around 50 to almost 500. While rough sleepers are nothing new at the travel hub, a recent spike in alleged violence and drug use among the community is becoming somewhat of a PR nightmare for tourism bosses, who fear holidaymakers could be put off travelling to the capital city. This month, state-owned airport authority Aena was forced to fumigate several zones amid fears of a bed bug outbreak. Madrid-Barajas is the largest airport in Spain and manages more than 65 million passengers each year, including hundreds of thousands of Brits. But tourists arriving at the airport this week were visibly shocked by what they saw, with one overheard commenting: 'This looks like a disaster zone.' Pictures and footage taken by MailOnline show dozens of men and women sprawled out on the floor of Terminal 4, the epicentre of the crisis. The 'occupants' are seen sleeping on every level of the terminal and in any spot they can find, including next to toilet entrances, behind the flight display screens and at restaurant tables. It is so overwhelming for staff that they are considering filing complaints with the Ministry of Labour, citing the 'more than obvious risk' to their wellbeing, reports Spanish paper El Debate. According to Spanish reports, some of the occupants have been found carrying knives, machetes and other homemade weapons, while crack and other drug use - and even prostitution - are reportedly common. Terminal 4 is where the majority of the homeless live after they were relocated there by the authorities, having previously been spread across all of the airport's four terminals. Fernando, from Peru, has been living at Terminal 4 for several months. He moved to Spain two years ago in search of a better life, but ended up on the streets when work as a removal man dried up and he couldn't afford his rent. 'You definitely have to sleep with one eye open,' he told MailOnline while puffing on a cigarette just outside the arrivals hall. 'There are some bad eggs here who will rob you while you sleep, they usually come out at 3am, they'll take your phone, cigarettes, or whatever they can grab.' Fernando insisted 'we are not all bad', but admitted there were a 'bad few' who are creating negative media attention. He pointed to a puddle of urine on the floor, which he said was not an uncommon sight. 'Some of them just drink all day and get themselves into a state, they are peeing and going to the toilet where they sleep, off their heads,' he said. 'I sleep in the corner, there is a group of us calm South Americans who look after one another, it can get quite dangerous. 'A lot of the people are working for cash during the day in the black economy, then come back with alcohol and get drunk on whiskey and rum. Many have been living here for years. 'The police come every three or four days and check people's papers and ask some of them to leave - they are checking for people who have criminal records or are wanted by police.' Fernando says he does not know what the solution is but knows the airport is a 'life saver' for many as it provides a much safer environment than the streets. He said there are people 'from all over' living here, including Europe. One sleeping occupant was seen wearing a US Army uniform, while another, clearly intoxicated, was shouting gibberish in English. A Spanish occupant was seen covered in bite marks, believed to be from bed bugs. Up to a dozen officers from the National Police were seen checking people's papers along the 'main street' of the 'homeless city', which runs across a hallway by the elevators on the first floor. 'It's not a good time, you don't want to be walking through here,' one officer told MailOnline. Two security workers told this paper that they are 'not allowed' to speak out on the issue, but that if they could 'boy, we could tell you some things.' At night, National Police officers are seen donning face masks while patrolling the areas on three-wheeled segways. Fights between the occupants are rife. One clearly intoxicated occupant was seen shoving a security guard during the night that MailOnline visited the airport. He was swiftly escorted back to his sleeping area. In a statement this week, the UGT trade union demanded 'an urgent, coordinated, and effective response that guarantees both workplace and public safety, as well as dignified care for the affected group.' It read: 'Workers are exposed to dangerous situations in an environment that has not been designed or prepared for this type of problem. 'Travelers themselves, unaware of this situation, are also suffering the consequences, facing an environment of insecurity unbecoming of a key infrastructure for the country.' It blasted authorities for failing to tackle the issue, 'neither Aena, nor the Community of Madrid, nor the Madrid City Council, whose mayor has classified these people as 'political refugees,' it fumed. It said those living at the airport are referred to as 'unauthorised occupants' and are 'people with very diverse profiles: without financial resources, with mental disorders, alcohol or drug addiction problems.' The ASEA trade union has called for a series of bans in public areas of the airport, including 'staying overnight, residing, wandering around, or using passenger rest areas' without flight documentation. But Gaspar Garcia, an NGO worker who has been feeding the homeless at the airport for years, blamed the airport's relocation of the occupants as being behind a surge in incidents. 'The current situation of the homeless at Barajas Airport is tougher than ever,' he told RTVE this week. A trade union has called for a ban of those 'staying overnight, residing, wandering around, or using passenger rest areas' without flight documentation 'Instead of seeking housing or inclusion solutions, they have decided to relocate them to a very specific area - on the first floor of Terminal 4 - without basic conditions: no cleanliness, no security, no opportunity for real rest.' Garcia is head of the Despega project at the Bokatas NGO. He accused several media outlets of 'exploiting' the tensions between the homeless 'to criminalise them.' He also said authorities have been purposely making life for the homeless more difficult in the hopes they will leave the airport. He said: 'Benches and electrical outlets have been removed, sleeping hours have been limited... they've even prohibited us from bringing food from organisations like Bokatas, which was one of the few things they had left. It's a strategy of attrition, to force them to leave the airport without giving them any alternative.' Meanwhile, a blame game continues to engulf the different governing bodies. President of the Madrid region, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, this week warned of an 'international buzz' surrounding the crisis. According to respected Spanish daily El Mundo, the regional government fears airlines and countries like the UK will begin warning tourists about the risks they are exposed to at Barajas Airport. Laura Martinez Cerro, Director General of Tourism and Hospitality for Madrid, told the newspaper: 'The situation at Barajas Airport could harm the tourist image of the Community of Madrid, eroding the perception of security so valued by visitors and to which so much effort is put.' The airport technically falls under the administration of Madrid City Council, but the regional government of the Community of Madrid admits it is affected by the ongoing incidents - and is also blaming the national government for 'not doing enough'. 'We're going to try to do whatever it takes,' Madrid President Ayuso said this week. 'As long as there's even one person sleeping on the floor of the airport due to this situation, we can't stand idly by and think this situation is over.' But Ayuso said the national government, led by Socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez, could be doing more However, Ayuso said the national government, led by Socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez, could be doing more. 'These are Aena facilities,' the conservative leader said, blasting Sanchez's 'blatant refusal to act' with 'all necessary means'. Aena, the authority that manages most of Spain's airports, is state-owned. 'It's an inhumane situation for these people, and certainly Madrid and Spain as a whole don't deserve that image,' she added.
