UK travellers are now encountering new data checks at European airports as the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully implemented across 29 countries within the Schengen area, including popular destinations such as Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Germany, Belgium, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. This new system, which began full operation on April 10 after a gradual introduction since October, requires UK holidaymakers to create a digital record by providing additional personal information and biometrics upon arrival, effectively replacing the traditional passport stamping process.

The introduction of the EES has unfortunately led to significant travel disruptions. Numerous passengers have missed flights after enduring extensive queues, with one notable incident in Milan seeing hundreds of people unable to board their flight to Manchester. A mother from Oldham, for instance, found herself stranded in Italy for five extra days, incurring additional expenses, after her flight departed without her due to a four-hour delay at border control.

Industry bodies and travel experts have voiced strong concerns regarding the system's impact. The Airports Council International (ACI) reported delays of up to three hours at various airports, particularly in Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy. Olivier Jankovec, Director of ACI's European division, warned that the situation could become "unmanageable" during the peak summer months. Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, echoed these fears, predicting a "summer of chaos" if corrective measures are not taken. She highlighted the problem of significant passenger volumes attempting to pass through border control simultaneously, creating severe bottlenecks, and noted that airports often fail to deploy sufficient staff to match demand.

Calls for action include consistent pleas from Lo Bue-Said and Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs at Abta, for a pause in EES registration during peak travel periods and the implementation of contingency measures to suspend biometric checks when passenger volumes are high. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary harshly criticized the EES as "a shit show and a shambles," leading to queues of up to four hours, and suggested postponing its full introduction until October, framing it as a punitive measure against Brexit.

Conversely, the European Commission maintains that the system is functioning effectively in the "overwhelming majority" of member states, despite acknowledging minor technical issues in a few countries that are currently being addressed. The Commission stated that the average registration time for a passenger is 70 seconds, although ACI's estimates suggest it could take up to five minutes. The Commission emphasized that ensuring proper, on-the-ground implementation of the EES is the responsibility of individual member states.

These EES-related issues are compounded by other challenges facing European airports, including the potential for jet fuel supply disruption. The ACI recently alerted EU energy and transport commissioners about an impending systemic shortage, stemming from the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with Europe heavily reliant on Middle Eastern imports for its significant jet fuel consumption.