Holidaymakers are being warned to prepare for potential airport gridlock as the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) causes major disruption. easyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis has identified key European destinations suffering serious bottlenecks, labelling the system 'a bit of a mess'.
Canary Islands and Milan Linate hit hardest
Among the main trouble spots are the Canary Islands, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Palma. Jarvis also pointed to major bottlenecks at Milan Linate Airport in Italy, where administrative pile-ups recently left stranded passengers watching their flights depart without them.
Airline operational limits mean planes cannot hold at the gate indefinitely without jeopardising take-off slots or causing flight crews to exceed legal duty hours. In the Milan incident, aircraft waited an extra hour on the tarmac before being forced to push back.
Mixed picture across Europe
Certain destinations, including popular Greek islands, have adapted well to the updated border clearance procedures, keeping passenger traffic moving. Jarvis said: 'The EU had a very long time to prepare for something they have not prepared very well.'
Advice for travellers
To avoid long passport queues, travellers are advised to arrive at departure terminals significantly earlier than usual. For passengers who miss their departure due to passport control backlogs, easyJet confirmed it will rebook affected customers onto a subsequent flight at no extra charge.
Looking ahead, Jarvis remains hopeful about long-term benefits once initial teething issues subside, though he is advocating for an extended grace period through the winter months. He said: 'It should be a good thing when everyone has been registered because they will be able to use e-gates, but until then it is clunky.'
