British tourists are being urged to allow significantly more time at European airports when returning home, as severe delays linked to the new biometric border control system continue to disrupt travel. Wizz Air boss Yvonne Moynihan has warned holidaymakers flying back from EU destinations to arrive at the airport three hours before their scheduled departure, citing major queues and lengthy waiting times caused by the digital registration process.
New EES System Causes Widespread Delays
The European Union's entry-exit system (EES) has replaced traditional passport stamps with a digital registration that requires biometric checks for all non-EU citizens upon entry and exit. Although the system began rolling out gradually across Europe in October last year, it came into full force last month, leading to widespread reports of huge queues at border control points.
In some of the worst-affected airports, including popular holiday hotspots in Spain, France, and Portugal, waiting times have reached up to three-and-a-half hours during peak traffic periods. The European airports association ACI Europe confirmed these figures based on a survey conducted across 45 airports in 20 EU states on May 26.
Recent Incidents Highlight the Scale of Disruption
Just last week, French police temporarily suspended EES checks at the Port of Dover to free thousands of tourists trapped in long queues amid scorching heat. Speaking to the BBC, Ms Moynihan explained that while standard advice is to arrive two hours before a flight, the additional passport checks mean travellers should now plan for three hours. She noted that the implementation of the new measures has been fragmented across Europe, with some countries experiencing seamless travel while others face significant delays at usual hotspots.
Ms Moynihan also advised passengers to carry portable chargers and water when landing at destination airports, and for those with connecting flights, to allow several hours for transfers. The European Commission, however, told the BBC that the EES is not the sole cause of delays, stating that the registration process typically takes around a minute.
