British travelers planning trips to popular holiday spots in Europe have received updates following chaotic queues at major airports. Portugal and Italy are expected to be the next destinations to ease EU border checks, with Greece already postponing Entry/Exit System (EES) rules for UK visitors until September due to significant delays.
Travelers have faced extensive delays and flight disruptions due to the new post-Brexit regulations mandating non-EU visitors to provide biometric data like facial scans and fingerprints at dedicated kiosks in airports and border points.
Portugal has started allowing passengers through during overwhelming queues and is likely to revert to traditional passport stamping before the May half-term, following Greece’s lead. Issues like faulty biometric technology and staff shortages have exacerbated the situation, also impacting France and Croatia.
Seamus McCauley from Holiday Extras highlighted the economic importance of British tourists to Greece, emphasizing that countries cannot afford to lose out on trade due to EES delays. Ryanair has called for a pause in the EES rollout until September, criticizing the lack of readiness and staffing in countries like France, Portugal, and Spain, leading to long queues and flight disruptions.
The Foreign Office had previously cautioned travelers about potential delays at EU borders when the EES system was implemented on April 10. The travel industry continues to push for smoother airport procedures to avoid further inconveniences during the busy summer season.
