Move follows rising tensions over illegal immigration within the European free travel zone.

Since April 2024, new import rules require plant and animal products coming into Britain from the EU to be checked at the border. The new Border Target

Spain has begun document checks on passengers arriving from Italy amid a dispute over Rome’s border controls on travellers from Spain.

Starting from this Sunday, British travellers heading to Europe will face new entry checks as the Entry Exit System (EES) is gradually implemented across 29 European countries including popular…

Defra outlines risk-based inspections and enforcement from 2026 through 2030 across imports, domestic products and compliance controls

Defra outlines risk-based inspections and enforcement from 2026 through 2030 across imports, domestic products and compliance controls

The UK boss of budget airline Wizz Air has recommended that British holidaymakers arrive at European airports three hours before their return flights to account for potential lengthy queues caused by the new EU Entry Exit System (EES). Yvonne Moynihan highlighted that the biometric registration system, which records fingerprints and other data for non-EU travellers, has led to significant delays at passport control in several popular destinations such as Spain, Portugal, and France. Although some airports have managed the transition smoothly with additional staff and kiosks, others have seen waiting times extend considerably, occasionally causing passengers to miss flights. The EES, fully implemented from April, aims to enhance border security by tracking entries and exits within the Schengen area. Since October, nearly 80 million registrations have been processed. However, trade body ACI Europe reported queues of up to three and a half hours at some airports, warning that the situation could worsen during the peak summer season. In response, some countries like Greece have temporarily suspended biometric checks for British citizens to avoid major disruptions. Wizz Air is advising passengers to bring essentials like portable chargers and water, and to allow extra time for connections. The European Commission maintains that the system is functioning well at most borders and permits temporary suspensions during exceptional circumstances. Portugal has also pledged additional border officers to ease pressures. Despite initial teething problems, improvements have been noted, though Moynihan stressed the need for more countries to consider suspensions during high-travel periods. The article also addresses broader travel concerns, including stable jet fuel supplies amid Middle East tensions, with Wizz Air confirming no schedule cuts and encouraging confident bookings for summer holidays.

French authorities have temporarily suspended additional EU border processing measures at the Port of Dover following significant traffic congestion and lengthy queues affecting thousands of holidaymakers during the May bank holiday period. Travellers faced delays of up to two hours just to reach the port, followed by further waiting times of up to two and a half hours at the terminal on Saturday morning. The Port of Dover described the situation as “challenging” and confirmed it had escalated the issue with border authorities in order to ease congestion both at the terminal and on surrounding roads. By midday, conditions had begun to improve, with traffic described as slow-moving and processing times at check-in reduced to under an hour. Later in the afternoon, traffic was reported to be free-flowing. The disruption occurred during a key test period for the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border scheme that will eventually introduce biometric checks, including fingerprinting and facial recognition, for non-EU travellers across participating Schengen Area countries. Although the system has not yet been fully activated at Dover, border staff were still required to manually collect passenger data, contributing to delays. Port officials noted that conventional border checks remain in place despite the suspension of the additional measures. The Port of Dover’s chief executive highlighted that over 8,000 cars were expected to pass through the port in a single day and acknowledged frustration over slower-than-expected processing despite preparations, including the installation of 84 kiosks. Eurotunnel services also reported delays of around one and a half hours due to extended border processing times. The situation coincided with an unusually hot spell in the UK, with temperatures reaching the high 20s Celsius and heat health alerts in place, adding further strain on travellers.

Hundreds of families travelling from the UK to continental Europe experienced significant disruption at the Port of Dover on Saturday, as new EU border checks contributed to severe congestion. Around 8,000 travellers were expected to pass through the port on what was forecast to be its busiest day of the year so far. However, many faced extensive delays both on approach roads and within the port itself. Motorists reported being stuck in traffic for more than two hours before even reaching the port entrance, with surrounding routes such as the M20 and A2 described as being at a standstill. Once inside the port area, travellers encountered further delays at passport control, with waiting times of up to an hour and 45 minutes reported. Ferry passengers were advised by operators to allow sufficient time before check-in, but many still found themselves caught in unexpectedly severe congestion. The disruption is linked to the introduction of the EU’s Entry-Exit System (EES), which requires biometric data such as fingerprints and photographs. Although the system is not yet fully operational at Dover due to incomplete installation of French technology, border police are manually processing traveller records, contributing to slower movement through checkpoints. Conditions were further worsened by high seasonal demand and unusually warm weather, with temperatures reaching around 25°C and an amber heat alert issued for the South East of England. Officials estimated that the port normally processes around 800 cars per hour, but actual throughput was significantly lower during the disruption, intensifying the backlog and leaving many travellers frustrated and delayed.