The European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing widespread disruption at airports, with travelers facing lengthy queues, missed flights, and significant stress as the system becomes fully operational. The EES requires non-EU citizens, including many UK passport holders, to register biometric data such as fingerprints and facial scans upon entering the Schengen Area.
Airports Council International Europe had warned of potential two-to-three-hour waits during peak periods upon the system's launch. Weeks after its implementation, the situation has not improved, with reports of major delays becoming common. At Toulouse airport last month, approximately 150 Ryanair passengers missed their flight to the UK after being caught in passport control queues described by one passenger as "pure chaos," with up to 500 people reportedly caught in the backlog.
This new biometric process, which involves face scans and digital fingerprints, is being managed by border control officers at kiosks. Travelers are advised by some airlines to arrive at airports three hours before their flights. However, even early arrivals can be caught in delays, particularly if departure gates are not revealed until shortly before boarding. These delays mean passengers can still miss flights, with airlines potentially departing without them, even if the delay was due to border control.
Historically, holiday-related stresses might have included issues like hire car air-conditioning. Now, travelers are concerned about whether biometric kiosks can successfully read the fingerprints of individuals in the queue ahead of them. A survey by Holiday Extras indicated that airport queues, security, and passport control are the most significant causes of travel disruption and damage.
Travel writer Rob Crossan noted that the EES has created a "highly defective Brussels-built machine" that impacts real people, including families with young children, honeymooners, and the elderly. He anticipates that queues will continue throughout the summer across Europe, from Lisbon to Limassol, suggesting that strong drinks may become a common coping mechanism for travelers. The rollout of the EES is expected to continue impacting summer travel plans across the continent.