Faro Airport in Portugal, a key gateway for British tourists to the Algarve, has issued an alert urging passengers on international flights to arrive early due to possible constraints at departure border control. The warning, posted on the airport's official website and social media on April 16, comes as the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) causes significant delays.
The EES, which launched on April 10, replaces manual passport stamping with biometric and facial recognition checks. The system tracks travellers' stays to enforce the 90-day limit within 180 days, but has led to lengthy queues at airports across Europe, with some passengers reporting waiting times of two to three hours.
Last weekend, Faro Airport temporarily suspended EES registration due to excessive wait times, according to reports. The Airports Council International noted that many busy airports have experienced border control queues of up to three hours.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary criticised the system as a 'shambles' and called for its postponement until October, when winter schedules would reduce passenger volumes. The EES applies to non-Schengen travellers, including British citizens, entering the Schengen area, which comprises 29 European countries.
