Britons advised to allow 3 hours at EU airports for new border checks
The Story
Wizz Air boss Yvonne Moynihan has advised British passengers returning home via European airports to arrive three hours before departure, as the EU entry-exit system (EES) has caused some long queues. The EES, which replaced passport stamps with digital registration, became fully operational last month after being introduced gradually since October 2025. The European airports association ACI Europe reported that queues at peak times have reached up to 3.5 hours at surveyed airports.
Key Facts
- Wizz Air boss Yvonne Moynihan advised allowing three hours before flights, up from the usual two hours, for passengers returning via EU airports.
- The EU entry-exit system (EES) has been gradually introduced since October 2025 and became fully operational last month.
- Biometric checks are done on entry and exit for non-EU citizens under EES.
- Moynihan said the impact was “fragmented across Europe,” with long queues at “usual hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, France.”
- She noted that on her own trip to Mallorca there were no queues and extra staff and kiosks were available.
- ACI Europe conducted a survey of 45 airports in 20 EU states on 26 May, finding queues of up to 3.5 hours at peak traffic times.
- French police temporarily suspended EES checks at the port of Dover last week as holidaymakers faced long delays.
- The European Commission told the BBC that EES was not the only cause of delays, and registration usually takes about a minute.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
The article does not specify how many passengers have been affected overall, nor whether the three-hour advice applies to all EU airports or only certain ones.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Yvonne Moynihan, Wizz Air boss
- ACI Europe, European airports association
- Police Aux Frontières (PAF), French border police
- European Commission
Sources: The Guardian
