The discussion began after Ste Murphy, a UK resident with connections to the Algarve, shared a humorous post suggesting that passengers could spend as much time getting out of Faro Airport as they do flying from England.
“Algarve! You've got a problem!” was the message behind his post, which compared the 1,836-kilometre flight from Manchester to Faro with the much shorter distance passengers need to travel after landing.
As reported by Portuguese newspaper Postal, the post quickly attracted hundreds of reactions and comments, with travellers sharing very different experiences of arriving at the Algarve's main airport.
For Murphy, the issue is not simply the frustration of standing in a queue. He believes that long waiting times could also be affecting the local economy.
His argument is that every hour tourists spend waiting at the airport is an hour they could otherwise spend enjoying the Algarve, visiting restaurants, cafés, bars and shops.
He also raised concerns about the impression visitors receive when arriving in the region, particularly when photographs and videos of long queues are shared online.
However, not everyone agreed with his criticism.
Some social media users pointed to Brexit and the additional border checks faced by British travellers since the UK left the European Union. Others suggested that queues could be particularly long when several flights from the UK arrive around the same time.
Murphy responded that his concerns were not about Brexit but about the efficiency of the airport and the potential economic consequences for the region.
The discussion also revealed that experiences at Faro Airport can vary considerably.
One traveller reported arriving at 9am and being in a taxi just 40 minutes later, including passport control and baggage collection. Another said they had completed the arrival process and collected a rental car in just 33 minutes.
Other passengers, however, described longer waits, with some supporting Murphy's concerns about the airport's organisation and the experience of arriving in the Algarve.
The debate eventually moved beyond airport queues, with people discussing the region's dependence on tourism, the pressure visitors place on local infrastructure and the importance of maintaining a positive experience for those travelling to southern Portugal.
Although Murphy's post suggested a three-hour wait, no specific flight or independently verified waiting time was provided to confirm that figure.
The discussion nevertheless highlights how strongly travellers feel about their first experience of the Algarve, and how airport efficiency continues to be an important topic for one of Portugal's most popular tourist destinations.
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Maybe operate a dual system for UK citizens arriving.
Free access for those who we're sensible enough to vote Remain and a single passport control point, with limited operating hours, for the idiots who voted leave.
By Rod from Algarve on 03 Nov 2026, 11:27
As a home owner in the Algarve for the past 25 years we come & go frequently so far 4 times this year. We have encountered waiting problems & queues at Faro airport security in and out at every visit, by far the worst has been this year. We’ve queued every time between 1hour & 2hours & that is with SA. What is the point of queuing using egates (if they work) & then if they have worked for you have to further queue at the booth to have finger prints & photo done again - madness. More staff manning entry & exit border control booths is needed. The airport is aware of how many planes are arriving & leaving and should meet this demand if not cut down on flights. There are many other alternative holiday destinations to pick in Europe to go, unfortunately Faro is worse.
By Angelica Field from UK on 03 Nov 2026, 11:46
Ste is absolutely right. If you are fortunate to travel when there is little plane traffic in the airport it can be as good as if not better than many airports. The trouble is when multiple planes are taking off and landing within minutes of each other. It's not uncommon during peak periods for up to 20 planes to land within an hour. Get caught in that scenario and it may take as long as Ste suggests. My maximum time is 2.5 hours. The problem is exacerbated by new technology which clearly is not fit for purpose and lack of staff to cope during peak times. The airport, security and government all want to blame each other. Don't expect any improvement during these peak hours soon.
By David from Algarve on 03 Nov 2026, 12:13