British holidaymakers preparing for European travel face potential new disruptions this weekend as the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into full effect. The automated border check for non-EU nationals, which launched in April, has already been associated with extended queues and missed flights at airports across the continent.
The current flexibility allowing 29 countries using the EES to pause checks during peak periods will end on Sunday. This change is raising concerns about even longer wait times for British travelers, as nations like Greece, Portugal, Spain, and France will no longer be able to ease pressure on border control during busy times. In July, several countries, including Malta, Italy, Greece, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, reportedly requested that the ability to pause EES use be maintained beyond September 6.
Despite the full implementation, there is a possibility of a delay, with reports indicating the European Union is considering pushing back the final deadline. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, has privately assured the UK that an extension may be possible.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has previously warned passengers about potential delays, stating that the airline "will not wait for anybody" caught in queues. He advised travelers to arrive at airports earlier and be at the boarding gate on time, noting that passengers stuck in passport control queues would not be accommodated and would miss their flights. O'Leary identified Lisbon, Madrid, and Athens as airports particularly affected by EES queues, with approximately 15 airports experiencing significant, sometimes two to three-hour, waits at border control.
Earlier this year, Ryanair urged the 29 EES countries to suspend the system until September to help manage summer queues. The airline specifically criticized Spain's readiness, stating that despite years of notice, authorities failed to ensure adequate staffing, system readiness, or kiosk installation. One instance in Malaga saw a British holidaymaker miss her flight with her daughter due to lengthy queues.