A British journalist has described her experience with the European Entry/Exit System (EES) at Barcelona's El Prat Airport, warning that the current setup may struggle to handle peak summer crowds. The system, which became fully operational across EU countries on April 12, requires non-EU travellers to register biometric data such as fingerprints and a photograph.
Despite having already registered on a previous trip via Eurostar, the journalist found herself funnelled into a single queue for non-EU passport holders. Several EES machines were out of service, and even those already in the system had to scan their passports to confirm their status before proceeding through e-gates.
Total time from the end of the passport control queue to exiting into the Spanish sunshine was just under 25 minutes. While the journalist considered this acceptable for a busy Friday morning in April, she noted that the number of machines appeared insufficient to handle multiple plane arrivals simultaneously, particularly during school holidays.
Barcelona Airport, the second busiest in Spain, handled over 57 million passengers in 2025. Staff were described as ruthlessly efficient and accustomed to large crowds. However, the journalist expressed concern that families with children or those requiring assistance could face significantly longer delays in summer.
Greece has already announced it will exempt British travellers from EES over the summer, but it remains unclear whether other EU nations will follow suit. The journalist concluded that while 25 minutes is not terrible, the system's capacity may be tested as tourist numbers rise.
