Tourists passing through Athens International Airport are experiencing hours-long queues and significant delays due to the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES), with warnings of missed flights circulating among travelers.
The EES, implemented on April 10, requires non-EU travelers to have their fingerprints and facial images recorded at external EU borders. This new procedure has reportedly led to disruption and lengthy wait times at border controls across Europe.
Passengers at Athens International Airport have reported queues extending up to two hours, with some travelers expressing frustration and concern about making their flights. One account described being "over an hour and only moved about 100 feet," calling the situation a "nightmare" with people missing flights.
Athens International Airport has posted a notice advising passengers that the EES has been fully deployed for third-country nationals traveling to and from the Schengen Area. The notice states that passport control procedures may be significantly affected, resulting in long waiting times. Travelers are recommended to arrive at the airport at least two and a half hours before their scheduled departure to allow time for check-in, security screening, and passport control. The airport warns that late arrival at the departure gate may result in denied boarding.
Reports of extensive queues at Athens airport have surfaced in recent weeks. One Reddit user recounted a two-and-a-half-hour wait in May, even with only carry-on luggage. Another traveler described the situation as "chaos" and advised arriving four hours early, narrowly avoiding missing their flight. Earlier this summer, a traveler noted that lines in Athens, both arriving and departing, were at least two hours long.
The disruptions are not isolated to Athens. Similar scenes of long queues have been reported at other European airports, including Faro Airport in Portugal, Tivat Airport in Montenegro, and Kos Airport in Greece. The ongoing issues come during the peak summer holiday season, affecting millions of travelers heading abroad.
Britons, in particular, are being advised to arrive up to four hours before their flights to navigate the increased processing times caused by the new EES.