Britons travelling home via EU airports ‘should allow three hours’ before flights

British travelers returning home via European Union airports are being advised to arrive three hours before departure due to significant delays caused by the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) [1]. The digital border system, which began a gradual rollout in October 2025 and became fully operational last month, replaces passport stamps with biometric registration for non-EU citizens [1]. Wizz Air CEO Yvonne Moynihan stated the extra passport check has led to "longer waiting times than anticipated" [1]. The airline now recommends the three-hour buffer, advising passengers to bring portable chargers and water for potential queues upon landing [1]. Airport queues have grown severe, with a survey by ACI Europe finding waits of up to 3.5 hours at peak times across 45 airports in 20 EU states [1]. While the European Commission maintains that EES registration typically takes about a minute, the situation has forced temporary suspensions of checks, as seen recently at the port of Dover [1]. The disruption highlights the vulnerability of European air travel to systemic shocks. A precedent was set in 2010 when the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption led to the largest air-traffic shutdown since World War II, stranding millions and causing the airline industry losses estimated at €1.3 billion [3]. Unlike a natural disaster, the current delays stem from a new regulatory framework. The system's rollout has been uneven, with Moynihan noting "seamless travel" in some areas but persistent problems in hotspots like Spain, Portugal, and France [1]. Such widespread travel disruptions can have cascading effects, complicating responses to other crises. For instance, during the 2026 hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, passengers were evacuated to multiple countries for quarantine [2]. Efficient air transit is critical for managing public health emergencies, and systemic border delays could hinder similar coordinated international responses [2].