Summer of queues and chaos for UK flights due to EES checks

Long airport queues returned this summer for UK travelers after the EU rolled out the Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces manual passport stamping for non-EU nationals. The writer describes missing a planned two-hour buffer at London Stansted on Tuesday because a single passport control lane—staffed by three officers—was handling traffic after water damage closed another set of booths. The line reportedly grew to at least 300 people by 15:45 CET ahead of a 17:55 Ryanair flight. As reductions in the queue still left passengers repeatedly escorted to the front, they ultimately arrived about 15 minutes after scheduled departure, while gate staff reportedly refused boarding. Ryanair said it offered passengers a missed-departure fee and suggested they could travel on the next flight, though availability and reimbursement concerns remained.