Around 100 EasyJet passengers were left behind at Milan Linate airport on Sunday after massive queues caused by the full rollout of the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES). Travellers bound for Manchester faced hours-long delays as biometric and facial recognition checks were introduced for third-country nationals, including Britons.
The EES, which replaced manual passport stamping, requires passengers from outside the Schengen area to submit fingerprints and a photograph on their first visit. The system, fully operational from Friday, led to huge lines at airports across Europe, including Paris, Lisbon and Brussels. Some travellers reported people fainting and vomiting in the heatwave-affected queues at Linate.
Among those stranded was Carol Boon, 59, who told the BBC she had been on a hen party and described the situation as 'very stressful'. Another traveller, Max Hume from Leeds, spent £1,800 to return home via Luxembourg. A 17-year-old student from Oldham said she and her boyfriend waited 20 hours for a flight the next day, costing her mother extra money.
EasyJet stated the delays were 'outside of our control' and that the flight was held for nearly an hour. The airline offered free transfers on later flights for affected customers, but those booking with other airlines were advised to contact their travel insurance. Some passengers complained they received only £12.25 in compensation.
The UK government noted that the EES may add 'a few extra minutes' per passenger, but once registered, the record is valid for three years. Later in 2026, Britons will also need to apply for the ETIAS visa-waiver scheme, costing around £17.42, which will be required for travel to most EU countries.
