Airport in Spanish city to enforce new rule between 9pm and 5am

Madrid Airport has hired a private security firm to reduce the number of homeless people sleeping overnight in its terminals. The move, which was first enforced on Wednesday evening (May 21), is an attempt to prevent any non-traveller or worker from accessing, wandering, or spending the night in the airport facilities, airport operator Aena has said.

Between 9pm and 5am, five entrances will remain open in Terminals 1, 2, and 3 and four in Terminal 4. The new security will be deployed at the entry doors. The plan was first announced a week ago, citing concerns about the "insecurity and unhealthiness" in the Spanish airport, especially Terminal 4, which Aena has complained about since February.

Those who are not employees or do not have a ticket or boarding pass will not be allowed to stay. However, family and friends will still be able to greet arrivals, despite the fact that they will have no flight documentation.

Unions have already expressed concerns about allowing a private company to perform "removal" duties.

The large numbers of homeless people sleeping in the airport has gone unaddressed for several months until now, as officials at different levels of government continued to blame each other. However, emerging videos on social media and news reports of the population put a spotlight on the issue.

A recent survey by the Caritas charity estimates that as many as 421 homeless people are sleeping inside Terminal 4 alone. Many go to work during the day and return each night to sleep.

Workers have complained that the airport is infested with biting insects and several employees have provided photographic evidence of their bites. The complaints forced the airport's management to call in a pest control company to fumigate several areas of the airport, including corridors, furniture and baggage claim belts, in an attempt to bring the situation under control.

This issue is not limited to Madrid, either. At Malaga Airport, it has been alleged that staff have been bitten by fleas and bed bugs. However, the authorities have denied this.

The City of Workers' Commissions (CCOO) union is leading an appeal for urgent action. It has publicly denounced the unsanitary conditions and lack of safety endured by workers at Malaga airport due to the presence of homeless people.

"Airports are designed and equipped exclusively for passenger traffic and, therefore, are not prepared for people to live there. Local and regional public authorities are aware of this reality and are working to improve the situation of homeless people," Aena said in a statement.