en 
A reader of The Portugal News said that on 25 August: “Passport control had two people then four people checking – electronic machines were not working and I was one of over 500 people. No social distancing…Shocking…This is not how to keep the airbridge”
Another traveller passing through passport control in Faro today, 28 August, who took the featured image, told The Portugal News that “no social distancing was taking place and retailers were upset because of the queuing”, although he added that “it only took 15 minutes to get through so it looks like the airport is coping as best they can with the huge numbers”.
Other photos of the airport and the situation were widely shared online on 27 August, however SEF, the Portuguese immigration agency, released a press release today stating that the images showed a situation which involved eight planes landing at the same time and that this was a one off situation which led to a temporary situation at Faro airport.
SEF also added that they have enrolled a further 12 immigration officers for Faro airport and a another 10 are due to arrive on 1 September, while from Monday more of the electronic passport gates will be available for those arriving and to cut down on the queuing.
According to Reuters, the number of passengers arriving in Portugal from the UK has risen by 190% since Portugal was removed from the quarantine list on 20 August.
English
Nederlands
Deutsch
Français
Español
Italiano
Svenska
Pусский
Română
中文
Türkçe
हिन्दी
Português
Українська
اردو
Polski
عربي
Suomi
עִברִית
Afrikaans
Português (Brasil)
And all airlines have now added more flights to Faro, by popular demand!
By Annie from Algarve on 28 Aug 2020, 17:48
well done portugal keep up the good work
This problem appears to be getting very political why dont we all go back
To what we called normall people around the world died in there thousands before the virus which we were not told about
By M MAUGER from Other on 29 Aug 2020, 06:05
We left faro airport to come to UK and the airport on the 27 Aug was deserted we had no social distancing worries. Felt safer than the supermarket shopping!!
By Silves resident from UK on 29 Aug 2020, 08:32
The electronic gates at Faro never seem to be in operation. It's ridiculous that SEF didn't anticipate a rise in numbers at the airport with an air bridge in place. Surely they have sight of landings and passenger numbers
By Nigel Judd from Alentejo on 29 Aug 2020, 11:17
Portugal doing very well and excellent hygiene feel very safe .The picture shows something that could happen in any airport and feel alot of people are being negative especially when other places in the UK dont look like they are following rules with pictures in newspaper .
By Annemarie Hynds from UK on 29 Aug 2020, 12:15
I arrived in Faro airport on 28/08/20 and the airport was extremely quiet. There was no problems whatsoever and everyone was wearing masks. So the above article is untrue around the time when we arrived which 2pm. The Portuguese authorities in the airport had everything under control and there was absolutely no problems at all!!!
By Lynda from Algarve on 30 Aug 2020, 01:53
Hello we arrived at Faro Airport on Thursday 27th August at 13.40 on Easyjet flight from Belfast. cabin crew organised disembarking by row the queue at passport control was socially distancing and the baggage was on the belt before we got through passport control. We felt safe and that the employees of the airport.
By Sharon Beckett from UK on 30 Aug 2020, 10:37
"Other photos of the airport and the situation were widely shared online on 27 August, however SEF, the Portuguese immigration agency, released a press release today stating that the images showed a situation which involved eight planes landing at the same time and that this was a one off situation which led to a temporary situation at Faro airport.
SEF also added that they have enrolled a further 12 immigration officers for Faro airport and a another 10 are due to arrive on 1 September, while from Monday more of the electronic passport gates will be available for those arriving and to cut down on the queuing." it's like SEF of faro is taking as a joke for the news.
By Pramesh kumar pradhan from Other on 30 Aug 2020, 14:11
This was certainly not a one-off incident. It took 45 minutes to get through passport control in Faro on Friday night. There were hundreds of passengers crushed into a small area. The airport had no health and safety measures in place to mitigate the risk of the spread of covid 19. The airport management has put the safety of passengers at risk. Not surprising that cases are rising in Portugal. It was a dreadful and worrying experience, we would not have travelled had we known that the airport had no measures at all in place to protect passengers.
By Ffion from Algarve on 31 Aug 2020, 03:36
I arrived 31st 10am 1000 people i arrival hall an absolute disgrace no Portuguese staff to handle the situation. Car hire desks complete chaos I have had property in Lagos for twenty years but after witnessing chaos at airport will be voting for removing green corridor
By William Montgomery from Algarve on 02 Sep 2020, 17:22