Fears of EES delays spark calls to use contingency plans

Government and industry sources warn of “severe” delays at many European airports over Easter with the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) due to fully replace passport checks from April 10.

This requires the biometric registration of all UK and other non‑EU citizens, with queues of two-to-four hours expected at some airports, although the system may be turned off if delays are “significant”.

Airports, airlines and trade associations have called for the deadline to be relaxed after assessing initial implementation from last autumn, and the EC has extended a provision for the system to be suspended for up to six hours at a time.

But Abta director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge noted that while some destinations “stand down the system if there are significant delays, some aren’t doing it at all”.

“Member states can use ‘contingency measures’ right through the summer, but we’re not seeing it in any consistent way,” he said.

“There is also no guidance on what constitutes ‘significant delays’.”

He insisted: “Our focus with the government, the Commission and destinations is, ‘Use the contingency measures’.”

A government source warned of “severe delays” on entry to some destinations over Easter, suggesting “the EC is not listening” and said: “The hope is the chaos forces the EC to rethink.”

An industry source agreed, saying: “It may be very difficult in places, but maybe there need to be delays for the EC to wake up. There is a disconnect between what the industry is seeing and what the EC is saying. Anywhere there are significant volumes of travellers and attempts at 100% registration, it isn’t working.”

The source noted: “EES is being rolled out by interior ministries and if it’s registering 90% of visitors, that is a ‘success’ even with three-to-four-hour delays. Destinations need to say, ‘We’re going to stand down EES’.”

Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said the current rollout plans “raise real concerns for travellers and the industry” as she called for a flexible suspension option during peak travel months.

“This would allow authorities to properly assess operational pressures, ensure consistent readiness across member states, and increase staffing at key border points before scaling up further,” she said.

The system at French border control, including at Eurostar and the Port of Dover, remains dogged by IT issues and incapable of registering travellers.

There is also a risk of delays at US airports over Easter, with a federal government shutdown now in its sixth week leaving security staff unpaid and the US Travel Association warning of “hours-long security lines”.

The delays risk passengers missing connecting flights, adding to workloads for agents and operators.