Barajas Airport Bans Overnight Sleeping

Starting Thursday, July 24, Aena, nan nationalist institution that manages Spain’s airports, will enforce a prohibition connected overnight stays astatine Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport. The move intends to forestall nan terminals from becoming an informal shelter for bum individuals and to reenforce nan airport’s superior domiciled arsenic a transit space.

Under nan caller rules, entree to nan terminals during night-time hours will beryllium restricted solely to passengers pinch valid boarding passes, authorised staff, and accompanying persons. Aena has introduced accrued information astatine nan entrances of Terminals 1, 2, and 4, wherever information unit will cheque archiving to guarantee only those pinch a logic to beryllium successful nan building are admitted overnight. The argumentation follows increasing interest complete nan number of group utilizing nan airdrome for shelter, peculiarly during nan hotter months. Reports estimate that betwixt 300 and 400 individuals were staying overnight successful nan airport’s nationalist areas. Some of these cases progressive susceptible group pinch nary fixed abode, while others were reportedly airdrome users trying to prevention connected accommodation costs.

Aena has insisted that nan measurement is not intended to criminalise homelessness but to uphold safety, cleanliness, and due airdrome function. The institution emphasised that terminals are “exclusively transit structures” and are not suitable environments for semipermanent stays. In collaboration pinch Madrid’s municipal societal services and third-sector organisations, Aena will support efforts to relocate those affected by nan policy. The city’s La Latina municipal shelter and different support centres will connection replacement accommodation and assistance. Social workers person already been progressive successful nan terminals successful caller weeks to thief pass individuals of nan coming changes and connection support options.

The caller rules travel amid wider discussions crossed Europe astir nan increasing usage of awesome carrier hubs arsenic de facto shelters. Similar restrictions person been implemented successful parts of Italy, France, and nan UK. While nan argumentation has drawn disapproval from immoderate defense groups who reason it whitethorn push susceptible individuals further into crisis, Aena maintains that nan superior extremity is to safeguard airport users, forestall overcrowding, and guarantee Barajas continues to run efficiently and securely.