British passengers travelling home via European airports should allow three hours before their flights, according to Wizz Air boss Yvonne Moynihan, due to delays caused by the EU's new entry-exit system (EES). The system, which replaces passport stamps with digital registration, has been gradually introduced since October 2025 and became fully operational last month, leading to long queues at border checks.
Moynihan told the BBC that while usual advice is to arrive two hours before a flight, “in these circumstances, we are advising three hours.” She noted that the impact is “fragmented across Europe,” with seamless travel in some cases but long queues at “usual hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, France.”
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. Last week, French police temporarily suspended checks at the Port of Dover as thousands faced long delays in hot weather, invoking a clause that allows for temporary relaxation of EES regulations.
Moynihan also suggested allowing several hours between connecting flights and advised passengers to bring portable chargers and water. The European Commission said EES registration typically takes about a minute, but other factors can cause delays.
