Spain restricts non-travelers to Madrid Airport due to homeless camp problems

Madrid (AP) – The Spanish Airport Authority has restricted access to Madrid Airport in certain parts of the day to prevent more homeless people from sleeping in their terminals.

Travelers with only boarding passes, airport employees and escort tickets will be allowed to enter the airport within a few hours, with few departures and arrival flights, the Spanish Airport Authority said Wednesday night.

For months, the Spanish capital’s airport has seen homeless camps in some of its marinas, with individuals in sleeping bags occupying space near walls and bathrooms. Local media described the number of homeless people among hundreds.

Aena said this week it has provided assistance to Madrid city officials to resolve the issue a few months ago, but so far, has not helped enough.

“The airport is not a place designed for residence, but an infrastructure for transportation only, and in any case, this does not provide the appropriate conditions for overnight stays,” Aina said in a statement Wednesday.

Before the peak of summer travel, the political blame game between government authorities was largely unresolved.

Spain received a record 94 million international tourists in 2024.