Travel industry experts are predicting that Italy and Portugal may become the next countries to eliminate EU border checks at airports. British vacationers are facing delays at European airports due to the implementation of new border regulations under the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires fingerprint registration and photography for individuals entering the Schengen Area from external countries like the UK.
Recent incidents at Milan Linate airport saw over 100 easyJet passengers experiencing delays at passport control, resulting in missed flights. In response to the chaos caused by long queues, Greece has temporarily suspended the new rules for UK holidaymakers until September. Reports suggest that airports in Portugal are already allowing passengers to bypass queues during peak times, and Italy is likely to adopt a similar approach before the upcoming May half-term holidays, with other popular destinations such as Spain, France, and Croatia possibly following suit.
Seamus McCauley from Holiday Extras criticized the EES rollout, stating that British tourists contribute significantly to the Greek economy, and Greece has rightfully chosen to prioritize tourism over flawed border control measures. He anticipates that Italy and Portugal will emulate Greece’s actions, potentially prompting a domino effect among other countries reluctant to risk losing tourist revenue due to inefficient border checks.
Meanwhile, Ryanair has announced changes to its airport check-in and bag-drop services, requiring passengers to complete the process 20 minutes earlier than before. The airline plans to close these services one hour prior to flight departure, compared to the current 40-minute window, in order to mitigate the number of passengers missing flights due to delays at security and passport control. Failure to adhere to the new policy may result in denied boarding without a refund, effective from November 10.
