EU Entry-Exit System Strains Holiday Gateways in Greece and the United Kingdom

Airports operated by Fraport Greece—serving Corfu, Rhodes, Mykonos and Crete—have been forced to erect temporary gazebos so passengers can wait for biometric entry-exit checks. The makeshift shelters protect travelers from the sun while queues stretch beyond normal processing areas. At the port of Dover, the same checks caused delays of about four and a half hours during the May half-term, with officials warning of “utter chaos and miles of tailbacks” as summer traffic peaks.

The Guardian

Implemented in October 2025, the EU’s Entry-Exit System obliges non-EU travelers to submit fingerprints and a photograph at the start of a trip and to undergo verification each time they leave or re-enter the Schengen zone. Border police may suspend checks during peak periods, but that discretionary flexibility is set to expire in September 2026. The system was introduced to improve security and track non-EU movements across the bloc.

The Guardian

Fraport Greece chief executive Alexander Zinell described the current arrangement as “very unpleasant for passengers, and even dangerous.” He argued that the temporary fixes are insufficient and called for a “new version, an update, and probably a reconfiguration” that would allow registration before boarding. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged a suspension of the controls until next summer, citing widespread “delays and missed connections” across Portugal, Spain, Italy and Belgium. Ryanair echoed these concerns, warning of “queue chaos” at popular holiday airports such as Alicante, Málaga and Palma.

The Guardian

EU officials acknowledge the system is “not perfect” but have rejected calls for a full suspension, noting that only 20 of the 1,500 border-crossing points are classified as “difficult spots.” The UK Home Office has pledged to push heavily for a pause in the checks at Dover, emphasizing the risk of severe congestion during the upcoming holiday surge.

The Guardian

With the flexibility to suspend checks slated to end in September, industry stakeholders argue that the EES must be overhauled to prevent further operational breakdowns at major tourist gateways. The combination of safety concerns, commercial disruption, and mounting political pressure suggests that a substantive revision of the system is likely to dominate EU-UK transport discussions in the coming months.

The Guardian

• “It is very unpleasant for passengers, and even dangerous,” — Alexander Zinell, Chief Executive, Fraport Greece

The Guardian

• “These are just temporary fixes, the system needs to be overhauled,” — Alexander Zinell

The Guardian

• “It needs a new version, an update, and probably a reconfiguration in order to allow people to register before they fly, before they get on a plane, before they go to the airport.” — Alexander Zinell

The Guardian

• “utter chaos and miles of tailbacks” — Home Office statement on Dover

The Guardian