British passengers returning home via European airports should allow three hours before their flights, an airline boss has advised, amid growing concerns over new security procedures causing lengthy queues. Yvonne Moynihan, head of Wizz Air, said the Entry-Exit System (EES), which replaced passport stamps with digital registration, has led to longer waiting times than anticipated.
The system, gradually introduced since October 2025 and fully operational last month, requires biometric checks for non-EU citizens on entry and exit. Moynihan noted that while some airports have had seamless travel, “usual hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, France” have experienced long queues. She advised passengers to bring portable chargers and water, and to allow extra time for connecting flights.
The European airports association, ACI Europe, reported that queues have reached up to 3.5 hours at peak times, based on a survey of 45 airports in 20 EU states. It said the situation is “deteriorating”, with previously unaffected airports now reporting excessive waits despite partial suspensions of EES.
Last week, French police temporarily suspended checks at the Port of Dover as thousands faced delays in hot weather. A port spokesperson welcomed the move, which invokes a clause allowing for relaxed checks. The European Commission said EES registration typically takes about a minute, though other factors can contribute to delays.
