France and the UK have agreed to increase staffing at border controls to prevent travel chaos during the summer holidays. New EU fingerprinting and facial recognition checks are expected to cause significant delays at Channel crossings.
The CEO of Fraport Greece, Alexander Zinell, has urged a major reform of the EU's Entry-Exit System (EES) border checks, citing passenger discomfort and safety risks due to long queues. His airports have used gazebos to shield travelers from the sun.
Berlin Airport's boss warns of up to two-hour queues for non-EU nationals due to the new EU Entry-Exit System (EES). Airports and airlines report system failures and long waits, with fears of significant disruption during the summer travel season.
Rome's airport chief warns the EU's new digital border system (EES) could cause "disaster" this summer. Marco Troncone stated suspending biometric checks for non-EU citizens is the only way to avoid travel chaos, citing faulty technology and long queues.
French police have temporarily suspended extra EU border checks at Dover port, following two-hour delays for thousands of holidaymakers. The EU's new entry-exit system (EES) has caused significant disruption.
Travellers are experiencing significant delays and missed flights due to the implementation of the new EU entry-exit system (EES). Reports highlight technical failures, insufficient staffing, and a lack of clear guidance at major European airports.
Some travellers spent hours in lines at airport, with kiosks not working, little seating and few staff on hand to helpSome travellers passing through the new EU entry-exit system (EES) have faced huge delays at border checks, with some waiting for up to three hours, airports say.The new rules have gradually been introduced in Europe since October 2025, and came into effect on Friday in the Schengen countries – 25 of the EU’s 27 states plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Continue reading...
Europe's smaller airports face an existential threat if jet fuel shortages triggered by the Middle East crisis lead to widespread route cancellations, the Airports Council of Europe has warned. The US-Israel war on Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz have doubled jet fuel prices, prompting some carriers to cancel flights. Regional airports, still 30% below 2019 traffic levels since Covid, are most exposed as demand on their routes is more price-sensitive. Lufthansa has already axed 20,000 summer flights via CityLine. Industry leaders warned airlines with weak liquidity positions will face pressure in September.
Iran war and EU’s new entry-exit system could lead to travel misery this summer, but there are ways to mitigate itCan Europe avoid a summer of travel chaos?The war in the Middle East has prompted fears that potential shortages of jet fuel could result in flight cancellations this summer and warnings that holidays could be severely disrupted.Airports have said jet fuel could run short within three weeks as a result of supply problems after the strait of Hormuz was effectively closed when war broke out at the end of February. Continue reading...
