NewsUK NewsAir travelAirports at Brit holiday hotspots including Spain, France and Portugal have reported severe delays and long queues - some as long as three-and-a-half hours at peak times11:27, 30 May 2026Updated 11:27, 30 May 2026British tourists are being advised to allow more time at airports across Europe before travelling home because of major delays caused by biometric checks.‌Wizz Air boss Yvonne Moynihan warned holidaymakers returning home from an EU destination that they should arrive at the airport three hours before their flights are due to depart amid concerns about the new security procedures.‌The EU entry-exit system (EES) has now replaced passport stamps with a digital registration, involving biometric checks carried out on entry and exit for all non-EU citizens.‌The EES has been gradually introduced across Europe since October last year but came into full force last month. Since then, tourists have reported huge delays at border control,.Just last week, French police temporarily lifted the EES checks at the Dover port to free thousands of tourists trapped in long delays in the scorching heat.‌Ms Moynihan told the BBC: "Because there is another passport check … that's where we see that people have, again, experienced longer waiting times than anticipated."She said that while usual advice is to arrive at the airport two hours before a flight, "in these circumstances, we are advising three hours".‌The new measures have been "fragmented across Europe", she continued, with some EU countries recording "seamless travel" while in extremes, there have been long queues and delays at "usual hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, France".“When you land in the destination airport, there might be queues, so you should bring a portable charger or water," Moynihan said her airline is advising in general to any British customers travelling from an EU destination.For those with connecting flights, she advised planning for several hours.Article continues belowHer comments come as the European airports association ACI Europe warned queues have been reaching an eye-watering three-and-a-half hours in peak traffic times, based on its survey conducted across 45 airports in 20 EU states on May 26."Airports which previously did not report excessive waiting times are now doing so despite the extensive use of partial suspension of EES," it said in a statement to Travel Weekly.However, the European Commission told the BBC that the EES was not the only factor that can cause delays at the border, stating information may only take around a minute to register.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌European UnionWizz AirIn the newsTravelAir travel