Britons are facing significantly longer waits at passport control at some airports in Europe after the rollout of the EU's new Entry/Exit System, or EES. Reports indicate processing times have risen sharply in certain locations, creating fresh disruption for travellers during busy periods.
The new system introduces additional identity checks for non-EU passengers, including fingerprints and facial scans. While the scheme is designed to modernise border management, the added steps appear to be slowing passenger flow at some of Europe's busiest airports.
Warnings about extended queues are likely to concern holidaymakers and other travellers heading to the continent, especially where terminals are already under pressure. Even modest delays at each checkpoint can build quickly when large numbers of passengers arrive at once.
The issue highlights the challenge of introducing tighter digital border controls without causing major bottlenecks. For now, the early impact of EES suggests some passengers should be prepared for longer-than-usual waits before clearing immigration.
