EUROPEAN AIRPORTS — The EU entry-exit system (EES) became fully operational across European airports in June 2025, replacing passport stamps with digital registration and introducing biometric checks for non-EU citizens on entry and exit. The system, gradually introduced since October 2024, has triggered widespread passenger delays and led to temporary suspensions at some border points.
Wizz Air boss Yvonne Moynihan said the new system has caused longer waiting times than anticipated due to an additional passport check. "Because there is another passport check that’s where we see that people have, again, experienced longer waiting times than anticipated," she said. Moynihan advised travelers to arrive at airports three hours before departure. "In these circumstances, we are advising three hours," she told the BBC. She also recommended allowing several hours between connecting flights and bringing portable chargers and water due to potential queues upon arrival, particularly in "usual hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, France." Moynihan described the impact as "fragmented across Europe."
Airport operators have echoed these concerns. The European airports association, ACI Europe, said the "situation is deteriorating," citing a survey of 45 airports in 20 EU states conducted on 26 May that reported queues lasting up to 3.5 hours during peak traffic. ACI Europe noted that airports which previously did not report excessive delays are now experiencing them, even with partial suspensions of EES in place.
French police temporarily suspended EES checks at the port of Dover last week. A spokesperson for the port described the situation as "challenging" and said they were "pleased that Police Aux Frontières (PAF) have responded positively by invoking the article 9 clause of the EES regulations." Article 9 permits temporary relaxation of checks under certain conditions.
The European Commission told the BBC that EES was not the only factor contributing to delays and noted that registering information under the system usually takes about a minute. The Commission also emphasized that other variables, including staffing levels and overall passenger volume, affect processing times.