British passengers returning home via European airports should arrive three hours before their flights, an airline boss has advised, as new EU security procedures cause large queues. The EU entry-exit system (EES), which replaces passport stamps with digital registration, has been fully operational since last month, leading to delays at border checks.
Wizz Air boss Yvonne Moynihan said on Saturday that the impact of the new checks is “fragmented across Europe,” with long queues at “usual hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, France.” While some airports have seen seamless travel, others have experienced waiting times exceeding expectations. Moynihan advised passengers to bring portable chargers and water, and to allow several hours between connecting flights.
The European airports association, ACI Europe, reported that queues at 45 airports in 20 EU states reached up to 3.5 hours at peak times on 26 May. Last week, French police temporarily suspended EES checks at the port of Dover as thousands faced long delays in hot weather, invoking a clause that allows for relaxed checks.
The European Commission noted that EES is not the only cause of delays and that registration typically takes about a minute. However, airports continue to struggle with the new system, advising passengers to plan for extra time.
