British travelers planning trips to popular European vacation spots have received an update due to chaotic queues at major airports. Portugal and Italy are expected to be the next countries to ditch controversial EU border checks, following Greece’s decision to suspend Entry/Exit System (EES) rules for UK visitors until September due to significant delays.
Travelers have faced long delays and missed flights under the new post-Brexit regulations, which mandate non-EU visitors to use specific kiosks for submitting biometric data like facial scans and fingerprints. Portugal is currently temporarily bypassing the system when queues become unmanageable and is likely to switch back to traditional passport stamps before the May half-term.
Issues with faulty biometric technology and understaffing have exacerbated the situation, with similar problems reported in France and Croatia. Seamus McCauley of Holiday Extras highlighted the economic importance of British tourists to Greece and criticized the flawed implementation of the EES rollout.
Ryanair has called for a pause in the EES rollout until September, labeling the system as ‘half-baked’ and pointing out the lack of adequate staffing and readiness in several EU countries. The Foreign Office had previously cautioned travelers about potential delays at EU borders following the EES system’s introduction on April 10.
As Ryanair and industry experts raise concerns over the operational challenges of the EES, the future of border controls at European airports remains uncertain.
