The chaos began when the Entry/Exit System (EES) was fully launched on April 10, 2026. Under this system, non-EU nationals must provide fingerprints and a facial photo at passport control. However, only about a third of the 15 booths were manned that day, leading to extensive delays.

As David described it, “It was shocking. I’ve never missed a flight in my life.” The situation escalated as thousands of passengers queued at border control, with many expressing distress over potentially missing their flights. David recounted seeing people coming up crying, pleading for help.

Technical issues compounded the problem—EES kiosks at major hubs in France were not operational. In fact, Greece has even suspended biometric checks for British nationals amid these growing queues. ACI Europe warned that travelers could face delays of up to three hours during peak travel periods.

Passengers were processed manually, taking around five minutes per person. This slow pace meant that even after their flight had taken off, David’s family was still stuck in line for passport control two hours later.

The European Commission maintains that the EES system has been functioning smoothly in most member states since its launch. Yet, several countries have temporarily halted EES checks due to long wait times—suggesting deeper systemic issues that need urgent attention.

As officials grapple with these technical challenges and public dissatisfaction grows, one has to wonder: will these biometric checks truly enhance security and efficiency in travel or merely add more layers of frustration for passengers?

Сообщение EU border biometric checks delay появились сначала на Latest News UK.