British travellers may have to wait in queues for as long as six hours this summer because of Europe's new EES immigration system, according to an airline association.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says that long waits at the EU's borders have already caused some people to miss their flights.
Rafael Schvartzman, vice-president for Europe at IATA, warned that queues could last up to six hours this summer. According to The Times, Schvartzman said the EES systems are being run differently at each airport, leading to these problems.
Some airports do not have all their equipment working yet, and others do not have enough staff at the border.
Schvartzman said: "What we are seeing is a very hard risk of really challenging times or waiting times, talking about expectations of three, four, five, six hours, which is unacceptable."
Airports Affected Across Europe
Airports in EU countries, including popular holiday destinations such as Portugal, Spain, and Greece, are now using a new border control system. This is said to be causing wait times of two to three hours for British travellers.
Lisbon Airport and Faro International Airport in Portugal have seen peak queues exceed 6 hours, and airports at tourist hotspots like Alicante Airport and Lanzarote Airport are reporting significant border backlogs.
What is the Entry Exit System (EES)?
The new Entry Exit System (EES) replaces physical passport stamps for non-EU travellers with digital biometric registration and requires British travellers to provide fingerprints and photos when entering the Schengen Area, the world's largest free-travel zone comprising 29 European countries that have abolished internal border checks, allowing passport-free movement.
Countries in the Schengen Area include popular holiday destinations like Croatia, France, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Malta, and Italy and apply to non-EU nationals, including travellers from the UK, who are travelling to an EU country for a short stay, which means up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Children under 12 will be exempt from providing fingerprints, but they will still need to have their faces scanned.
Rollout and Impact
The system began its phased rollout on October 12, 2025, with full implementation across 29 Schengen countries finalised on April 10. As a result of the final implementation, UK travellers have been warned that queues may be longer as the busy summer holiday season approaches.
There are already reports of chaotic scenes at some European airports, with massive queues forming at border control in busy times like the Easter break, leading to passengers missing their flights.
The Mirror previously reported that about 100 people were stranded at Milan's Linate Airport on April 12th after an 11 am EasyJet flight to Manchester departed without them. EasyJet have said that border delays caused by the implementation of EES are "unacceptable".
A spokesman for Easyjet said: "We have been doing all possible to minimise the impact of the airport queues, holding flights to allow customers extra time and providing free flight transfers for any customers who may have missed their flight. We continue to urge border authorities to ensure they make full and effective use of the permitted flexibilities for as long as needed while the European Entry / Exit System is implemented, to avoid these unacceptable border delays for our customers."
A statement from the Airports Council International (ACI) also notes that passenger waiting times at airport border control are 2 to 3 hours during peak travel periods.
The ACI says that the system is causing "significant disruption to flight operations, with passengers missing flights and delays due to prolonged border processing times." They note that a flight to the UK on April 10th had 51 passengers missing at departure. Another flight had zero passengers on board at gate closing time, and 90 minutes later, 12 passengers were still en route to the gate, due to the delays.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, and Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E, said: "While we will continue to closely monitor developments in the coming days, it is already evident that greater flexibility is immediately needed. Border control authorities must be allowed to fully suspend the EES when waiting times become excessive. This is essential not only in the coming weeks, but throughout the peak summer travel season. Our support for the EES and its objectives is unwavering."
Jankovec also said that strengthening border management "must not come at the expense of operational efficiency or the passenger experience," and that safeguarding Europe's reputation as a well-functioning tourist and business destination is at risk, particularly as air travel is already facing significant disruption due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
Advice for Travellers
British travellers are being advised to reach the airport three hours early. The FCDO advised that on your first visit to the Schengen area, you will create a digital record upon arrival at the port or airport. You will give your fingerprints and have your photo taken at special booths. You do not need to give any information before your trip. If you are flying, you will do the EES checks after you land. These checks might take a little longer than before, especially when it is busy.
If you travel to the Schengen area from the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle at Folkestone, or Eurostar at St Pancras International, you will do EES checks at the border before you leave the UK.
If you often travel to the Schengen area for work or leisure, make sure your total stay does not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period. Be aware of the penalties and rules for overstaying in each country you visit or pass through.
Your digital EES record will be valid for three years. If you return to the Schengen area during this time, you will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border when you enter and exit.
The FCDO states that the EES aims to improve border security in the EU and nearby countries and that it has automated border checks to help prevent visitors from overstaying.
EES is part of the EU's broader efforts to strengthen border security. From autumn 2026, the EU plans to launch the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
