Holidaymakers heading to Europe this summer are being warned to clear passport control quickly as new EU border checks cause long airport queues and missed flights.
this summer are being warned to prioritise clearing passport control before stopping at airport shops, restaurants or lounges as delays linked to the European Union 's Entry Exit System continue to disrupt journeys.experts say the new biometric border checks are causing lengthy queues at a number of major European airports, with some passengers missing flights despite arriving well ahead of departure times.
The warning follows reports of significant delays since the Entry Exit System, known as EES, was fully introduced in April. The system requires non travellers, including UK passport holders, to provide biometric information when entering or leaving the Schengen Area. This includes passport verification alongside fingerprint and facial recognition checks.
One of the most high profile incidents involved an easyJet flight from Milan to Manchester that departed with just 34 passengers on board after more than 120 travellers failed to get through passport control in time. Some passengers reported waiting up to three hours at theThe new EU Entry Exit System requires UK travellers to complete fingerprint and facial recognition checks at border control.
Concerns are growing that disruption could worsen during the busy summer holiday season as passenger numbers increase across popular destinations including Spain, Italy, Portugal, France and Greece. Jürgen Himmelmann, Co Founder at , said: "Many travellers still have the old airport mindset of arriving, checking in and then spending an hour shopping or having a meal before heading towards the gate. A travel expert said many travellers still spend time shopping or eating before heading through airport checks.
If you're travelling through an airport affected by EES checks, your priority should be getting through security and passport control as quickly as possible. The shops, restaurants and lounges can wait. A lot of airports now have food outlets, coffee shops and retail stores beyond passport control. Once you're through, you can relax.
Until then, you're taking a risk because queues can build incredibly quickly and move far slower than people expect.
"Industry groups have already warned that the new border system is creating bottlenecks at some airports, with waiting times of up to three hours reported in certain locations. There are also concerns that the pressure on border infrastructure will increase as summer travel demand rises. Himmelmann said one of the main challenges for passengers is the lack of consistency in waiting times.
"One of the biggest issues is unpredictability. Travellers know how long security usually takes. They know roughly how long bag drop takes. With EES, the experience can vary dramatically depending on the airport, staffing levels and how many first-time registrations are being processed.
If you're travelling through a busy European airport this summer, particularly if you're heading home from Spain, Italy or Portugal, treat passport control as the first job, not the last.
" To reduce the risk of delays, Global Work & Travel is advising passengers to arrive earlier than usual, especially during weekends and school holidays. Travellers are also being urged to head straight to security and passport control after checking in rather than spending time elsewhere in the terminal.
The company recommends leaving shopping, dining and browsing until after border checks have been completed, allowing extra time when travelling with children, monitoring airport announcements and queue updates, and avoiding tight connections between flights. Passengers are also encouraged to check whether their airport offers any form of pre registration for biometric processing before travelling.
"The travellers who are least likely to be affected are the ones who treat getting through border control as their main priority. The biggest mistake we're seeing is people assuming they have plenty of time because they've already checked in. Unfortunately, that's exactly what many of the stranded passengers thought too. "
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