Title: Wizz Air Chief Urges UK Travelers to Arrive Three Hours Early Due to Border Delays

Budget airline executive Yvonne Moynihan has advised British vacationers to arrive at European airports three hours prior to their departure, citing significant congestion resulting from new border control procedures. Speaking to the BBC, Moynihan, the UK head of Wizz Air, highlighted that extended wait times at passport control in certain European hubs have already led to passengers missing their return journeys or connecting flights.

The congestion is largely attributed to the Entry Exit System (EES), a new protocol mandating that travelers register their fingerprints. While airports report that these queues are intensifying, a spokesperson for the European Commission maintained that the EES is functioning effectively at "almost all border crossing points."

Under the EES regulations, individuals traveling from outside the EU must provide biometric data upon entering many European nations, a record that is subsequently verified upon their exit. Since its implementation in October, nearly 80 million entries and exits have been logged, alongside 35,000 recorded refusals of entry. Although the system was scheduled to be fully operational at Schengen Zone borders, including airports, as of April 10, practical application has varied. For instance, Greece has effectively paused biometric checks for British nationals to avert disruptions during the busy summer season.

Navigating the "Fragmented" Impact

Moynihan described the effect of the new checks as "fragmented" across the continent. She noted that while some routes have seen "seamless travel," major destinations like Spain, Portugal, and France are experiencing substantial lines. During a recent half-term trip to Mallorca, Moynihan reported no delays, noting the presence of additional staff and a "significant amount of [EES] kiosks." However, she emphasized that the general guidance from her airline is to anticipate prolonged waits.

"When you land in the destination airport, there might be queues, so you should bring a portable charger or water," Moynihan advised. She pointed out that because EES data must be verified when travelers leave, there is a heightened risk of delays before flights returning to the UK. "Because there is another passport check... that's where we see that people have, again, experienced longer waiting times than anticipated," she explained.

Consequently, while the standard recommendation is to reach the airport two hours before departure, Wizz Air is now urging a three-hour window. Moynihan also recommended that travelers with connecting flights allow for "a number of hours" between journeys to account for potential border bottlenecks. She added that border officials are proactively suspending EES checks if excessive waits begin to form.

Airport Industry Concerns

ACI Europe, a trade organization representing airports, stated that passengers should adhere to the arrival times specified by their airlines. The group recently surveyed 45 airports across 20 EU states, revealing that the EES is now generating queues of up to three and a half hours. Despite the "extensive use of partial suspension of EES," the association noted an increase in reports of excessive waiting times.

ACI Europe warned that the situation is likely to "deteriorate further" and potentially become "unmanageable" as passenger numbers swell toward the summer peak. The body called for technical issues, such as instability in the central IT system and national interfaces, as well as adequate border staffing, to be resolved.

The European Commission clarified that the EES is not the sole cause of delays, noting that the registration process typically takes only about a minute. It also emphasized that member states are responsible for proper EES implementation, including providing sufficient border guards. In response to reports of severe delays in Portugal, the country announced the addition of 360 border officers at its airports in July.

Calls for Suspension

Moynihan acknowledged that Wizz Air had observed improvements following initial technical glitches. However, she expressed concern that the surge in summer travel would test the system’s limits, urging more countries to suspend the biometric checks during the peak period. The European Commission informed the BBC that biometric registration can be suspended "at specific border crossing points and for a limited" period until September.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-30 08:56:05 UTC