UK tourists planning to travel to Europe this summer have been warned to expect significant delays at airports, with waiting times potentially reaching up to six hours. The warning comes from Rafael Schvartzman, vice-president for Europe at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), who urged British holidaymakers to prepare for major changes that may have gone unnoticed.
New EU Entry and Exit System
The European Union's Entry and Exit System (EES) requires travellers from outside the bloc to provide personal information, submit fingerprints, and have their photograph taken. All details are verified upon departure, which could dramatically increase the time spent at passport control. Schvartzman described the situation as a "hard risk" for travellers, who may miss flights due to unexpectedly long queues.
Speaking about the potential impact, Schvartzman said: "What we are seeing is a very hard risk of really challenging times or waiting times, talking about expectations of three, four, five, six hours which is unacceptable. We know for a fact there are many cases where people have lost flights or their connectivity."
Travel Expert Advice
Travel expert Jürgen Himmelmann, co-founder at Global Work & Travel, also warned that many travellers still operate with an outdated mindset. He urged people to avoid making a "costly mistake" this summer.
Himmelmann commented: "Many travellers still have the old airport mindset of arriving, checking in and then spending an hour shopping or having a meal before heading towards the gate. This summer, that could be a costly mistake. If you're travelling through an airport affected by EES checks, your priority should be getting through security and passport control as quickly as possible. The shops, restaurants and lounges can wait."
He added that many airports now have food outlets, coffee shops, and retail stores beyond passport control, allowing travellers to relax once they have cleared security. Until then, they are taking a risk because queues can build incredibly quickly and move far slower than people expect.
According to reports, these disruptions have already caused chaos for hundreds of passengers hoping to head off for their holiday. The changes are expected to affect millions of UK travellers this summer, making it essential to plan ahead and allow extra time at the airport.
