British travellers heading to popular European destinations this spring and summer are being urged to arrive at airports at least three hours before departure, amid warnings of significant delays caused by the new EU Entry Exit System (EES).
Since the progressive rollout began in April 2025, airports across Europe have seen queues build and processing times slow. Full implementation across all entry points occurred in April 2026, and further disruption is anticipated as the summer travel rush intensifies. Recent reports confirm that queues of up to three hours have formed at some airports, with disruptions affecting multiple Schengen countries and leading to missed flights in certain cases.
The EES is designed to replace passport stamping and more accurately track stays by non-EU travellers. It requires non-EU nationals, including British nationals, to register biometric data upon crossing their first Schengen border, including fingerprints, a facial image, and entry details. Travellers must also provide proof of accommodation, a return or onward ticket, sufficient means to cover their stay, and travel insurance.
British nationals have been permitted to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period since the UK left the European Union in 2020. The 29 countries requiring registration are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Which airports are most affected?
A new study from compensation experts at Claims.co.uk analysed passenger traffic data from the UK Civil Aviation Authority between April and May 2025, finding that over 24.2 million passengers travelled between UK airports and European destinations where EES registration may now be required.
The 10 Schengen airports with the highest volume of UK travellers during this period were
- Amsterdam — 1,478,652 passengers (6.1% of all UK-to-Schengen traffic). Top UK departure points: Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh.
- Palma de Mallorca — 1,274,199 passengers (5.3%). Top UK departure points: Manchester, Gatwick, Bristol.
- Alicante — 1,217,558 passengers (5.0%). Top UK departure points: Manchester, Gatwick, Bristol.
- Malaga — 1,196,298 passengers (4.9%). Top UK departure points: Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol.
- Barcelona — 878,953 passengers (3.6%). Top UK departure points: Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester.
- Paris Charles de Gaulle — 761,687 passengers (3.1%). Top UK departure points: Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh.
- Madrid — 550,478 passengers (2.3%). Top UK departure points: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted.
- Frankfurt Main — 479,144 passengers (2.0%). Top UK departure points: Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham.
- Copenhagen — 476,479 passengers (2.0%). Top UK departure points: Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester.
- Geneva — 439,020 passengers (1.8%). Top UK departure points: Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the most affected, with 255,609 of its UK passengers travelling via London Heathrow alone. Spain dominates the list, with Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Malaga, and Barcelona collectively accounting for nearly 20% of all UK-to-Schengen passengers across the two-month period, highlighting how concentrated British leisure travel demand is across Spain’s busiest airports.
What travellers should do
A spokesperson at Claims.co.uk commented: “Spain is a top pick for Brits in spring and summer, with April and May already seeing strong demand for Palma de Mallorca and Alicante. Since the rollout began in April, there have already been reports of disruption at some European airports, with queues building at border control and some travellers missing flights.
“With peak season still to come, queues are only expected to grow as more travellers go through EES checks. On already busy routes like Spain and the Netherlands, delays can build quickly.
“One way to avoid disruption is to get to the airport earlier than usual. For European flights, especially from busy UK hubs or to popular destinations, we’d recommend arriving at least three hours before departure to allow for security, check-in, and any delays along the way.
“If your flight is delayed by more than three hours, or cancelled due to operational issues such as airport congestion or staffing pressures, you may be entitled to compensation. Many passengers are not aware that delays linked to these kinds of disruptions can still qualify, so it is always worth checking your eligibility. All you need to do is hold on to your documents and submit a claim with the airline after your journey.”