EU Entry/Exit System Delays UK Travelers at European Airports

From 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) began operating at all external Schengen borders. The system requires non‑EU, non‑EEA and non‑Swiss passport holders to have fingerprints and a facial photograph recorded, lengthening passport‑control processing times. Ryanair warned passengers that queues could be significantly longer and advised travelers to arrive with ample time.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned that waits of up to six hours are possible, citing a Ryanair flight from Toulouse to Stansted that left 150 passengers behind and an EasyJet flight from Milan to Manchester that missed boarding after a three‑hour delay. Airlines such as Wizz Air are urging passengers to arrive three hours before departure, while Airlines UK is calling for a pragmatic approach to flexibilities in the system’s rollout. The new checks affect routes between the Schengen area and countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Egypt and Israel, but EU, EEA and Swiss passport holders are exempt.