The Seve Ballesteros-Santander airport continues to not carry out border controls on passengers coming from Italy twelve days after the date set by the Government for its entry into force. The National Police has not started to carry out these checks because, "for the moment," it has not received the necessary instruction to implement them, according to police sources cited by Europa Press.
The Government temporarily reestablished controls at the internal air and sea borders for travelers coming from Italy from 00:00 hours on August 8 until 24:00 hours on the next September 7, according to the order from the Ministry of the Interior published in the Official State Bulletin (BOE).
However, passengers who have arrived at the Cantabrian airport from Italian territory during these days have not had to undergo these checks, unlike what is happening at other Spanish terminals.
The Police assure that they have not yet received the instruction
The reason that the controls have not started in Santander is, according to police sources consulted by Europa Press, that the body has not yet received the instruction to carry them out.
The Order INT/846/2026 establishes that the controls generally affect passenger flights whose last airport before entering Spain is located in Italy and maritime links coming from Italian ports.
The regulation itself, however, contemplates that the Secretary of State for Security may determine the airports, ports, and connections specifically affected through instructions developed based on risk analyses and the evolution of the threat.
At Seve Ballesteros, there are connections with Italy from companies such as Ryanair and Vueling, including routes with Bologna and airports in the north of the country.
More than 3,000 travelers controlled at other airports
The situation in Santander contrasts with that of other Spanish terminals where controls began to be implemented after the measure came into force.
Until August 13, more than 3,000 travelers had been identified on 273 flights, in an operation involving 446 agents, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior collected by Europa Press.
Among the main airports where these checks have been carried out are Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Valencia, Bilbao, and Málaga, as well as terminals in the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.
The controls affect all individuals arriving on the connections included in the measure, regardless of their nationality, although the checks must be carried out according to the legal regime applicable to each traveler and respecting the right to free movement of EU citizens.
Temporary controls until September 7
The Interior Ministry justified the temporary reinstatement of controls due to migratory pressure on the central Mediterranean route, the difficulties detected in the operation of transfers of asylum seekers to Italy, and the risk associated with networks dedicated to irregular human trafficking and other forms of cross-border crime.
The order states that these circumstances may lead to an increase in secondary movements from Italy to other countries in the Schengen area and considers that there is a "serious, real, and current threat to public order and internal security".
The reinstatement of controls is expected to last for 30 days. It will automatically end on September 7, unless the Interior Ministry decides to lift it earlier because the circumstances that justified it have disappeared.
Any subsequent extension would require a new reasoned decision and an updated assessment of its necessity and proportionality.