Britons traveling to Europe are facing new chaos at the airport as the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) – an automated border control for non-EU nationals – comes into full effect.
Since its launch in April, EES has been associated with long queues at airports, with some passengers even missing their flights.
And the disruption could now get even worse.
The 29 countries using the system can currently pause checks during busy periods, easing pressure during the peak summer season.
GreecePortugal, Spain And France have all taken advantage of the flexibility when needed.
But from Sunday they will no longer be able to do that, raising fears of even longer queues for British holidaymakers.
Several countries, including Malta, ItalyGreece, France, GermanyBelgium, Portugal, Switzerland and the The Netherlands wrote to Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner in July asking to maintain the option to pause the use of EES after September 6, according to EuroWeekly news.
The Entry/Exit system was launched in 29 countries in April
Full implementation could be delayed as the European Union considers postponing the deadline. The times reports.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, has apparently privately assured Britain that an extension is possible.
The new system has wreaked havoc all summer and Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has previously warned passengers that the airline “will not wait for anyone” trapped in long queues.
Speaking The Telegraph’s Travel Expert podcastMr O’Leary stressed: ‘We will not wait for anyone, our priority is the passengers standing at the boarding gate when boarding begins.
“If you are not at the boarding gate when we have finished boarding, the plane will leave without you.”
On what rights and protections passengers might have in such scenarios, Mr O’Leary said: ‘You don’t have those. That’s unfortunate, but we don’t delay our flights for people stuck in passport control queues.”
Instead, he urged travelers to be prepared and arrive at the airport early.
“They have to show up at the airport earlier, but they have to be at the boarding gate, otherwise they won’t fly,” he said.
Since the introduction of the new system, travelers often find themselves standing in long lines at the airport
The travel boss called airports such as Lisbon, Madrid and Athens ‘particularly bad’ for EES queues.
Mr O’Leary added: ‘There are about 15 airports where there are real problems, two to three hours of waiting time at border control, which in my view is unacceptable.’
Shortly after the EES was fully rolled out, Ireland’s budget carrier wrote to the governments of all 29 countries urging them to suspend the EES until September to help manage queues during the summer peak season.
Speaking about Spain, which has been particularly affected by the system, Ryanair said: “Despite knowing for more than three years that the EES would be fully operational on April 10, 2026, the Spanish authorities have failed to ensure sufficient staffing, system readiness or the installation of kiosks.”
In Malaga, one Brit holidaymaker was left behind in the hub with her daughter after missing her flight because of the long queues.
