British tourists could face delays of up to an hour at 20 European airports due to stricter border requirements under the new Entry/Exit System (EES), which mandates biometric data collection for non-EU travellers. Research from AirAdvisor identifies Greece and Spain as the most disruption-prone destinations, while Milan Bergamo in Italy records the longest average delay times.
Airports Most Likely to Delay Flights
The ranking, based on the number of flights delayed by more than 60 minutes, includes popular holiday hotspots. The top 20 airports are:
- Milan Bergamo, Italy
- Nice Cote d'Azur, France
- Kefalonia, Greece
- Pisa, Italy
- Corfu, Greece
- Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Reus, Spain
- Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Olbia, Sardinia
- Zadar, Croatia
- Zakynthos, Greece
- Naples, Italy
- Chania, Greece
- Paphos, Cyprus
- Kos, Greece
- Rhodes, Greece
- Ibiza, Spain
- Alicante, Spain
- Mykonos, Greece
- Porto, Portugal
Why Delays Are Occurring
Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, explained: "Our research found that Greece is by some distance the most disruption-prone country for UK air passengers. Seven of the twenty most disrupted destinations for holidays from the UK to Europe are Greek islands, which might not come as a surprise to frequent travellers to these airports." He added that these airports are often smaller than major hubs and operate at maximum capacity during summer, leading to cascading delays when disruptions occur.
Radchenko also noted: "Similarly, the sheer volume of flights between popular Spanish holiday hubs in Palma and Reus can result in full days of travel chaos when multiple services are delayed. When delays start to build up at an airport, a domino effect can occur, causing flights across a single day being pushed back, leading to higher rates of delays, particularly at peak periods."
Compensation Rights
Under the UK's UK261 regulation, passengers delayed by more than three hours or facing cancellation may be eligible for compensation. The amount depends on the delay length and flight distance. Travellers are advised to check their entitlements and keep records of disruptions.
