A British traveller recently returned from Europe and sailed through the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) with minimal delay, crediting a simple decision to fly via a smaller airport. Ellen Jenne, writing for the Daily Express, described her experience at Palermo Airport in Sicily as 'painless', despite widespread reports of hour-long queues at other European hubs.
Smooth sailing at Palermo
Arriving over three hours early for a 7:50pm flight, Jenne found only nine people ahead at passport control. The EES kiosks were not in use, and only one border booth was open. 'The whole experience was painless,' she wrote. 'I don't know what I was expecting, but I didn't think it would be so easy.'
Contrast with Lisbon chaos
Jenne's parents had a very different experience in May at Lisbon Airport. Despite arriving three hours early, they faced a 90-minute queue with only two booths open for EES and passport control. They reached their gate just 20 minutes before closure. 'Mum described the experience as frustrating and, as time went on, increasingly volatile,' Jenne reported.
Expert insights on airport size
Travel experts confirmed that smaller airports often offer faster EES processing. Jane Bolton of Erna Low said: 'Popular European destinations like Spain, Portugal and Italy are among the major hubs seeing the biggest impact, particularly for passengers registering biometric details for the first time.' Alex Dyer of Lapland Famille added: 'The longest EES queues have been at the big long-haul airports like Paris CDG and Schiphol. Smaller airports, somewhere like Palermo, Bari or Trieste, have fewer arrivals, so the queues are usually shorter.'
Factors influencing wait times
Rachel Pennycook of The Luxury Holiday Company noted that queue times depend on multiple factors: 'How many UK flights arrive or depart at the same time, how many first-time EES registrations are being processed, staffing levels, and whether the airport has enough working scanners or kiosks open.' She advised travellers to consider flight timings, connections, and travel dates rather than solely airport size.
Practical tips for navigating EES
Jane Bolton recommended arriving early, considering fast-track passes (costing £3–£12 per person), allowing extra time for families with children under 12, and checking passport validity (issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least three months after departure).
