The new EES European Entry/Exit System, which became operational on April 10 following a testing period, is said to be causing delays of up to three hours at Palma Airport for non-EU travellers and British passengers are facing similar problems at airports across Spain.
EES went live last October to mixed expectations and with the summer season approaching, British travel groups are calling for new EU border rules to be suspended during peak travel times. Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said has called for flexibility as travel activity ramps up.
ABTA says passengers’ experience of EES has been mixed, with some people having no issues at all whereas others have experienced queues or technical problems. ABTA says that as well as applying the contingency measures, destinations and border authorities need to do more to plan for peak travel periods. This should include the use of additional border guards at the busiest times. Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association said: “The ambition of a project like EES means it was never going to go completely smoothly, and we were prepared for that.
“However, what is frustrating is that border authorities have it within their power to ease queues and deal with issues as they arise – but that doesn’t seem to be happening across the board. As the rollout expands and we head towards peak travel periods, we’re urging border authorities to plan for busy periods and use the contingency measure available. It’s critical the European Commission keeps a close eye on this throughout the rollout and beyond.”
And now, Greece has opted to suspend EU fingerprint and facial scans for British holidaymakers this summer, abandoning the new biometric security measures amid concerns over widespread queuing chaos across the continent. Delays of up to four hours have been reported at numerous destinations, including Greece itself.
Under the new Entry and Exit System (EES) introduced by Brussels, all travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries are required to be photographed and fingerprinted at EU airports and border crossings, Wales Online reports. Eleni Skarveli, director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, emphasised that the decision would “ensure a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece” and would “significantly reduce waiting times” while easing congestion at airports.
A statement on the website of the Greek Embassy and posts on official social media channels said: “In the framework of the implementation of the Entry/Exit System, as of 10 April 2026, British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.”