Spain introduces controls for travellers from Italy

Spain Introduces Controls on Travelers from Italy

The Spanish government has decided to impose temporary controls on travelers arriving from Italy starting at midnight on Saturday, August 8. These controls will include identity checks, nationality verification, and the validation of visas or residence permits for nationals of third countries. The measures will be applied randomly and will remain in effect until midnight on September 7, unless circumstances change.

According to government sources, the measure responds to the persistent irregular migration pressure that Italy is experiencing. Spain has taken this decision in light of Italy’s refusal, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s leadership, to lift border controls it reinstated following the Ceuta crisis.

Tensions between Spain and Italy escalated after 72,000 people entered Spanish territory through the border between Morocco and Ceuta. In the midst of the crisis and with the autonomous city overwhelmed, Italy promoted a letter from several EU governments criticizing Spain’s immigration policy and even considered excluding Spain from the Schengen free movement area. Spain viewed this move as an act of hostility and disloyalty.

Italy, according to Frontex, is the member state that has recorded the highest number of irregular crossings in recent years, with figures that have doubled those of Spain. Despite this, Spain has never introduced controls for Italy.

The first Italian passengers arrived at Madrid-Barajas airport on Saturday after the border control was established by Spain. The major police union criticizes the imposition of controls on Italian travelers: “It only responds to a political vendetta.”

The introduction of reciprocal controls at the borders between the two European countries will have to deal with daily passenger volumes exceeding 86,000 travelers throughout the month of August. According to data provided by Eurocontrol, the European agency coordinating air traffic across the continent, there were an average of 540 direct flights between the two Mediterranean countries during the week of July 31 to August 6, representing a 9% increase compared to last year and a 25% rise compared to the same week in 2019.

Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, Vueling, and Wizz Air would be most affected by the controls, but the consequences could be even greater for traditional carriers like Iberia, ITA Airways, and Air Europa. Their business model relies on routing passengers through their large connecting airports before embarking them on intercontinental flights. With short layovers, the risk of missing subsequent flights becomes very high with these controls in place.

With current aircraft occupancy rates above 92%, this translates to roughly 2.7 million passengers traveling in both directions. Airlines have put up for sale around 2.9 million seats on direct flights between the two countries throughout August, according to data provided by Cirium, a company specializing in air transport analysis.

In total, there are 172 direct connections between 29 Italian cities and 22 Spanish locations. Rome-Fiumicino-Madrid, Rome-Fiumicino-Barcelona, Milan-Malpensa-Barcelona, Milan-Malpensa-Madrid, and Rome-Fiumicino-Ibiza are the busiest routes this month, according to Cirium.

The connection between Italy and Spain is not just one of the busiest air routes in Europe; it is also one of the most important in intercontinental connections: not only are there those who fly directly from an Italian city to a Spanish one and vice versa, but also thousands of people who pass through the major airports of both countries each day to travel outside of Europe or return to the continent.

The current situation between Spain and Italy remains tense, with both countries maintaining their positions on border controls. The coming week will be crucial in determining whether these controls will be extended beyond September 7 or if any agreement can be reached to resolve the migration crisis and restore free movement between the two countries.

Piece prepared by the newsroom from cross-checked sources in several countries.