New Eu Border System Sparks Airport Chaos As Spain Travellers Face Long Delays

Travellers flying to and from Spain are being told to let other clip astatine nan airdrome aft nan EU’s caller Entry Exit System went unrecorded and instantly led to agelong queues, delays and missed flights. The system, which became afloat operational connected 10 April 2026, replaces passport stamping for non EU visitors pinch integer checks, and nan first days person already shown really overmuch longer separator power tin now take.

For galore passengers, particularly those travelling from nan UK, nan alteration is being felt consecutive away. What utilized to beryllium a speedy cheque astatine nan separator is now a slower process, and astatine engaged times, nan queues are building up fast.

Why nan caller EES checks are slowing things down astatine airports

The Entry Exit System is designed to modernise separator control, but successful practice, it adds a fewer other steps that quickly make a quality erstwhile thousands of group are arriving astatine once.

Instead of a elemental passport stamp, travellers whitethorn now request to spell done passport scanning, facial nickname and fingerprint registration, peculiarly connected their first travel nether nan caller system.

On paper, each measurement only takes a short time. In reality, erstwhile each rider has to spell done it, delays commencement to build. Reports from nan first days mention queues stretching for hours successful immoderate airports, pinch immoderate travellers missing their flights arsenic a result.

Airports and hose groups person already raised concerns, informing that nan strategy is putting unit connected separator power astatine nan worst imaginable time, arsenic recreation numbers statesman to emergence again.

What has changed for UK travellers heading to Spain

Since Brexit, British travellers are nary longer treated arsenic EU citizens erstwhile entering Spain aliases different Schengen countries. That intends they are now afloat taxable to these caller checks.

For anyone travelling for nan first clip since nan strategy went live, nan process whitethorn return longer than expected. Passengers could beryllium asked to supply a facial image, fingerprints and passport specifications earlier being allowed through.

Once registered, early trips should beryllium quicker, but for now, nan first acquisition is wherever astir delays are happening.

The strategy besides automatically records introduction and exit dates, helping authorities way really agelong visitors enactment successful nan Schengen area. This replaces nan aged passport stamp and makes it easier to enforce nan 90 time limit.

For travellers, it intends location is little room for mistakes, and separator checks are much elaborate than before.

Queues, missed flights and increasing unit connected airports

The early days of nan rollout person not gone unnoticed. Airport groups crossed Europe person warned that nan strategy is already causing disruption, pinch immoderate passengers facing agelong waits astatine separator control.

The problem is not constricted to 1 country. Reports propose delays astatine respective Schengen introduction points, including airports serving Spain, wherever ample numbers of British visitors walk through.

With the  summertime play approaching, location are concerns that nan business could get worse if thing changes.

Some airdrome organisations person called for much elasticity successful really nan strategy is applied, particularly during highest recreation times, to forestall queues from becoming unmanageable.

What travellers should do earlier flying to Spain now

For now, nan safest attack is to scheme up and springiness yourself much clip than usual.

If you are travelling to Spain from nan UK, it is simply a bully thought to get astatine nan airdrome earlier than you usually would, particularly if your formation is during a engaged period.

Checking your airline’s guidance earlier you recreation tin besides help, arsenic immoderate airlines are already advising passengers to set their presence times.

If possible, debar tight connections. A hold astatine separator power could time off very small clip to drawback a connecting flight.

It is besides worthy making judge your passport is valid and that you are acquainted pinch nan Schengen rules, including really agelong you are allowed to stay.

Will things amended arsenic nan strategy settles in

Officials expect nan business to amended complete time. Once travellers person completed their first registration, early crossings should beryllium quicker, arsenic their information will already beryllium stored successful nan system.

Even so, nan first days person shown that nan modulation will return time. Airports will request to adapt, and travellers will request to set their expectations.

For now, anyone flying to Spain should beryllium prepared for a different acquisition astatine nan border. It whitethorn not enactment this measurement forever, but astatine nan moment, nan caller strategy is already changing really group move done Europe.