Beginning Thursday, July twenty fourth, Aena, the general public firm that manages the Spanish airport, will implement a ban on night time stays at Adolfos Ares Madrid-Balajas Airport. The aim of this transfer is to forestall terminals from changing into casual shelters for homeless people and to strengthen the airport’s major position as a transport area.
Below the brand new guidelines, entry to the terminal throughout night time hours will likely be restricted to passengers with legitimate boarding passes, approved employees and companions. Aena has launched elevated safety on the entrances at Terminals 1, 2 and 4. There, safety personnel examine the paperwork in order that solely these with a motive to be within the constructing are acknowledged in a single day. This coverage follows rising concern over the variety of individuals utilizing airports as shelters, notably in the course of the sizzling months. Studies present that between 300 and 400 people stayed in a single day in public areas on the airport. A few of these circumstances had susceptible individuals with out fastened housing, whereas others reportedly reportedly reportedly reportedly reportedly by airport customers making an attempt to save lots of on lodging prices.
Aena argues that the measure is meant to assist security, cleanliness and correct airport functioning, moderately than criminalizing homelessness. The corporate emphasised that the terminals are “transport construction solely” and usually are not appropriate for long-term stays. Working with Madrid’s Municipal Social Companies and third-party organizations, Aena will assist efforts to relocate these affected by this coverage. The town’s Lalatina Municipal Shelter and different assist facilities present different lodging and help. Social employees have already been lively in terminals in current weeks, notifying people of upcoming modifications and providing assist choices.
The brand new guidelines come at the same time as broader discussions throughout Europe concerning the rising use of main transport hubs as de facto shelters. Related restrictions are in place in components of Italy, France and the UK. The coverage has attracted criticism from some advocacy teams who argue that it might additional push susceptible people into the disaster, however Ana argues that the principle objective is to guard airport customers, forestall overcrowding, and that Barajas will proceed to function effectively and safely.
