Spain chaos as major airport 'fumigated'

Passengers at Madrid International Airport. (Image: Getty)

Workers at Madrid's international airport have complained that the transport hub is infested with a horde of biting insects. Several employees said they had been bitten while at work and provided photographic evidence of their bites.

The complaints forced the airport's management to call in a pest control company to fumigate a number of areas of the airport. Fumigators disinfected corridors, furniture and baggage claim belts in an attempt to bring the situation under control.

A pests exterminator looks at dead Asian hornets. (Image: Getty)

Meanwhile, management has declared war on homeless people using the airport as an overnight shelter.

A recent survey by the Caritas charity estimates that as many as 421 homeless people are sleeping inside Terminal 4.

Caritas is the Catholic Church's official organisation in Spain for charity and social relief, instituted by the Spanish Episcopal Conference.

The number seeking refuge at the airport has increased following the end of municipal-funded campaigns during the winter to provide greater help and relief to those sleeping rough.

Aid workers have accused AENA—the management company responsible for running Madrid's airport—of introducing measures designed to deter the homeless from using the airport as an overnight shelter.

Measures adopted include access restrictions, changes in air conditioning to make overnight stays more uncomfortable, and the removal of furniture such as benches in the most frequented areas of the terminal.

Gaspar García, a coordinator of the NGO Bokatas, said the airport management has prevented their staff from entering the terminal to help the homeless.

The charity distributes food and hygiene kits to areas frequented by the homeless and has been doing this humanitarian work for six years.

AENA officials have met a number of times with representatives from the charity to ask them to stop their activities, arguing they are encouraging the homeless to decamp at the airport.

"They tell us we bring them by distributing food, but these people aren't here because we give them a sandwich," García said.

He added that airport security personnel are demanding that people show their plane tickets to gain access to terminals.

"They do this with those they already know are homeless; they don't ask anything from others," he said.

"These decisions have only created more conflict. Previously, they were dispersed. Many dressed well and blended in with passengers; they sat down to sleep, got up and left without bothering anyone.

"But now, having to lie on cardboard on the floor changes perceptions and makes them more likely to be singled out."