British passengers returning home via European airports should allow three hours before their flights due to new EU entry-exit system (EES) causing long queues, according to Wizz Air boss Yvonne Moynihan. The system, which replaced passport stamps with digital registration, became fully operational last month and has led to delays at border checks.
Moynihan advised travellers to arrive three hours early instead of the usual two, citing longer waiting times due to additional passport checks. She noted that the impact is fragmented across Europe, with seamless travel in some areas but queues at hotspots like Spain, Portugal, and France.
On her own trip to Mallorca, Moynihan experienced no queues due to extra staff and kiosks. However, she recommended passengers bring portable chargers and water, and allow extra time for connecting flights. The European airports association ACI Europe reported queues up to 3.5 hours at peak times, based on a survey of 45 airports.
Last week, French police temporarily suspended EES checks at Dover port under a clause allowing relaxation of regulations, as thousands faced delays. The European Commission stated that EES registration typically takes about a minute and is not the sole cause of delays.
