British holidaymakers have been warned to prepare for significant disruption at European airports this summer, with queues potentially reaching four hours or more due to the rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). Aviation bodies, including ACI Europe, IATA, and Airlines for Europe (A4E), have called for an immediate review of the 'significant delays' currently affecting passengers.
The biometric system, which requires fingerprints and photos from non-EU nationals including UK citizens, was launched in October 2025. Although airports and ports originally had until April 2026 to implement the technology, the EU recently granted participating countries a more flexible timeline until early September. However, delays are already being reported, with some passengers missing flights due to processing times increasing by 70%.
In a joint letter to EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner, the aviation bodies highlighted three core issues compounding the delays: chronic understaffing at border control, unresolved technical malfunctions, and limited uptake of the Frontex pre-registration app by Schengen states. They warned that without immediate action, severe disruptions over the peak summer months are a real prospect.
The European Commission insists the system is operating 'largely without issues', but the aviation groups said there is a 'complete disconnect' between the EU's perception and the reality faced by travellers. They urged the Commission to allow member states to partially or totally suspend EES until the end of October to minimise travel chaos.
Meanwhile, Lisbon airport has deployed soldiers trained as border guards to reduce waiting times after security flaws led to a temporary suspension of the digital border rollout. The situation remains a concern for UK travellers planning summer trips to the Schengen Area.
