British travelers heading to popular holiday destinations in Europe are facing disruptions due to long queues at major airports. Portugal and Italy are considering abandoning EU border checks, following Greece’s decision to temporarily suspend Entry/Exit System (EES) rules for UK visitors until September, due to significant delays. Travelers have been stranded for hours, with some missing flights as a result of the new system. The post-Brexit regulations mandate non-EU visitors to submit biometric data like facial scans and fingerprints at dedicated kiosks. Portugal is currently allowing passengers through during unmanageable queues and is expected to switch back to traditional passport stamps before the May half-term. Issues such as faulty biometric technology and staff shortages are exacerbating the situation, also reported in France and Croatia.
Seamus McCauley, from Holiday Extras, emphasized that countries cannot risk losing tourism revenue due to EES delays, highlighting the importance of a functional system. Ryanair has criticized the EES rollout, calling for a suspension until September to prevent passengers from enduring long delays during the peak summer season. The Foreign Office had previously cautioned travelers about potential delays at the border when the EES system was introduced on April 10.