Holidaymakers have shared videos of long queues at European airports this summer, with some describing the experience as a 'nightmare'. The peak travel period is underway as many schools break up, and British travellers face an extra hurdle due to the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES).
EES requirements and backlash
The EES requires third-country nationals, including Brits, to provide biometric data—fingerprints and photographs—and have their passport scanned at the border. This creates a digital record valid for three years, replacing passport stamping. However, the system has faced backlash in the travel industry for causing long queues. In April, around 100 Manchester-bound passengers were stranded in Milan due to queues.
Industry leaders have called for changes, urging the EU to allow airports more flexibility to ease requirements during busy periods. Currently, individual airports can remove the EES briefly if queues are too long.
Queues reported in Greece and Portugal
With school holidays underway, passengers have reported long queues at airports in Greece and Portugal. While the EES could be a cause, other factors such as high passenger numbers and low staffing may also contribute.
TikTok user @rubyestellesmith13 shared a video of queues at Kos Airport in Greece, showing passport control delays. The video indicated they had been queuing since 12.30pm and got through just after 2pm. The video received over 2,000 likes, with mixed comments. One user, Annie Mc, wrote: 'We was there too yesterday from 12.30pm it was awful! Thought I was going to pass out.' Another, Ellie, said: 'Jeez the airport was busy when I was there last week but passport control was literally empty I just went straight through.'
In Corfu Airport, TikTok user @keelyemay123 shared footage of long queues outside, captioning: 'Still queuing outside Corfu Airport with just over an hour to go until my flight sets off.' She added: 'Honestly what a nightmare. Got to the airport three hours before take off and was still queuing outside the airport for an hour later.' Comments again showed mixed experiences: one commenter wrote it took about five hours to get through check-in, while another said both arriving and leaving was a breeze.
A video of long queues at Faro Airport, Portugal, on July 21 was shared by TikTok user @weoutside.pt. Comments were divided, with one saying they saw no queues, while another reported over 90 minutes to get through passport control with only one desk open.
EasyJet CEO comments on EES
In a financial update issued for easyJet on July 23, chief executive Kenton Jarvis said border control queues due to the EES had been better than feared for the start of the school holidays, as countries have been given flexibility on how to implement requirements during times of stress. However, he called for flexibility to be extended to September to cover the busy half-term period in October.
