EU's New Border System Sparks Travel Chaos for British Travellers
British holidaymakers and business travellers have been plunged into widespread disruption across Europe as the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into force, creating border chaos at multiple airports. The biometric system, which requires fingerprints and photographs from third-country nationals including UK citizens entering the Schengen area, has led to enormous queues, cancelled flights, and stranded passengers.
Widespread Airport Delays and Missed Flights
Passengers travelling through European hubs including Geneva, Lisbon, Malta, Brussels, and Amsterdam reported delays of up to two hours at passport control over the weekend, with disruptions continuing into the week. Social media platforms were flooded with complaints from frustrated travellers, with one Amsterdam passenger describing scenes of 'elderly people and parents with toddlers' waiting in extensive lines with 'hardly any' passport gates operational.
The situation reached a critical point at Milan Linate Airport, where approximately one hundred easyJet customers were abandoned while attempting to board a flight to Manchester on Sunday. Despite the airline delaying the departure by fifty-two minutes to accommodate passengers stuck in border queues, the flight ultimately departed half-empty as crew approached their regulated working hour limits.
Passenger Ordeals and Compensation Disputes
Seventeen-year-old student Kiera recounted arriving at Milan airport at 7:30 AM for an 11:00 AM flight, only to discover at the front of the border queue that her Manchester-bound aircraft had already departed. 'We got to Border Control and it was a massive queue of people,' she told the BBC. Her subsequent twenty-hour wait for an alternative flight to Gatwick instead of Manchester cost her mother £520, with easyJet offering just £12.25 in compensation.
Vicky Chapman from Wirral described harrowing conditions at the Italian airport, where she was stranded with her five-year-old son, partner, mother, and brother. 'It was so hot in the airport, people were vomiting, people were almost passing out,' she reported. The family faced additional expenses for accommodation and alternative travel arrangements.
Airlines and Airports Trade Blame
EasyJet stated that the border delays were 'outside of our control' and attributed the problems directly to issues with the EU's new border scheme, which they described as 'unacceptable.' The airline acknowledged holding flights where possible and providing free transfers for affected customers, while urging border authorities to implement flexibilities during the EES rollout.
Adam Lomas, stranded in Milan with his wife and baby daughter, reported that easyJet and airport authorities had 'spent hours arguing with each other about who is to blame.' His attempts to contact the airline resulted only in chatbot interactions that disconnected after several minutes due to alleged audio issues.
Broader European Disruption
The problems extended far beyond Italy, with former UK and EU diplomat Rupert Joy describing 'complete chaos' at Lisbon airport where numerous passengers missed flights despite arriving hours early. Similar scenes unfolded in Paris, where one parent with a child under twelve reported queuing for over two hours with at least one hundred people ahead of them.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary, who supported Remain during the Brexit referendum, accused the EU of punishing British holidaymakers through the border system implementation, calling the rollout a 's*** show and a shambles.' He noted significant disruption since the system's initial introduction in October, with full operation expected from April potentially worsening delays.
Travel Advice and Future Concerns
Airlines have advised passengers to check travel documents thoroughly, allow substantial extra time at airports, prepare for biometric checks, and factor additional waiting periods into onward travel plans. Travellers are being encouraged to arrive early, clear security promptly, and proceed to gates immediately when called.
With the EES system being implemented in stages and full operation anticipated within months, industry experts warn that British travellers could face up to four-hour delays at European airports as border authorities continue to deploy the new digital controls across the continent.
