Brits facing EU airport delays told 'arrive 3 hours early'

British travellers face EU airport delays as the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) replaces passport stamps with digital registration and biometric checks for non-EU nationals. The EU has fully operationalized the system, which has been rolled out progressively since October of last year. Wizz Air’s Yvonne Moynihan again urged travelers returning from EU destinations to arrive three hours ahead of their flights, noting longer-than-expected waits and occasional border bottlenecks, such as the Dover situation. Industry data from ACI Europe indicate queues can reach three-and-a-half hours at 45 airports across 20 EU states during peak periods, according to a May 26 survey. The European Commission says EES is not the sole cause of border delays; some registrations can take a minute, while other factors contribute. Authorities say improvements are ongoing, but travelers should plan for extra time.