Brussels under mounting pressure to suspend new post-Brexit border rules for British holidaymakers to avoid summer of travel chaos and airport queues of more than five hours

Published: 11:51, 1 July 2026 | Updated: 11:56, 1 July 2026 Brussels was today under mounting pressure to fully suspend its new post-Brexit border rules for British holidaymakers to avoid a summer of travel chaos. Global and European aviation chiefs warned Eurocrats in an open letter that thousands of holidaymakers faced being left stranded, with queues of more than five hours at passport kiosks. They said the ‘Entry/Exit System’ (EES) system, which came into full effect in April, could lead to half-full planes taking off from airports across Europe and warned the Continent's reputation as a holiday destination was 'at stake'. The letter, addressed to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, said passengers were already enduring queues of up to five hours as the system reaches breaking point at many airports. But they warned the situation could become ‘significantly worse’, adding: ‘Waiting times at border control have increased significantly, now reaching up to 5 hours during peak traffic periods. ‘These delays are impacting millions of passengers entering the [EU's] Schengen Area, including families travelling with young children, elderly passengers and persons with reduced mobility.’ It said flexibilities green-lighted by Brussels which allow the rules to be temporarily suspended for short windows had ‘provided some relief’, but that without greater measures there would be chaos this summer. Global and European aviation chiefs have warned queues of up to 5 hours are already forming at European airports thanks to the EU's new EES system  Passengers were forced to endure queues of three hours at Milan Linate in April, leaning easyJet passengers due to fly to Manchester stranded  ‘We have a responsibility to warn that this would result in a significant worsening of an already very difficult situation for passengers’, the letter said, adding: ‘This is not an issue confined to Europe's largest hubs. ‘Smaller airports serving major tourism destinations are equally affected. ‘Passengers have already been forced to queue for extended periods outside terminal buildings because border control facilities cannot process arrivals quickly enough. ‘Airlines face half-empty planes at gate closing time, while passengers are stuck in border control queues…Reports already suggest that some international travellers are reconsidering trips to Europe because of the prospect of excessive border delays. ‘This is undermining Europe’s reputation.’ Since April 10 this year, the EU has required non-EU citizens to enter their biometric details in the EES system before entering the bloc's free movement zone, known as the Schengen area. There have been huge queues at some EU airports, with passengers missing flights as a result. Some hubs also require further checks when leaving countries to return home. Brussels has allowed the Schengen’s 29 countries to suspend the system for windows of six hours during busy times. But national border forces are supposed to re-apply every six hours if problems persist and are only supposed to do so when a problem arises, rather than proactively. The letter, sent by the Airports Council International, Airlines for Europe and International Air Transport Association - three global bodies representing major airports and airlines - goes on to call for hubs to be allowed to suspend the EES system whenever they need to and ‘revert to standard Schengen border code checks’ until at least September so issues can be ironed out. Among the problems causing delays are inadequate infrastructure and staffing levels. UK passengers were left vomiting and passing out after being stranded in an Italian airport in April due to the EES system. The EU's new EES system requires registering biometric data on entry, but some airports don't have adequate infrastructure Plans by Greece, Portugal and Italy to exempt Britons, who the system applies to because of Brexit, this summer have previously been rebuffed by the EU Commission in Brussels  Around 100 passengers due to return to Manchester Airport on an EasyJet flight from Milan's Linate airport were stuck in three-hour queues as their flight departed without them. There are fears of repeat scenes this summer and that some European airports won’t be able to cope with even higher passenger numbers during the peak summer season. There are also fears of lengthy delays for France-bound holidaymakers at Dover and Folkestone ports, where the French border is on the UK side of the Channel. Plans by Greece, Portugal and Italy to exempt Britons, who the system applies to because of Brexit, this summer have previously been rebuffed by the EU. Airlines UK, which represents major carriers such as BA, easyJet and Ryanair, said: ‘With peak summer travel approaching and the system not yet working as it should, airlines need the EU Commission and Member States to get serious about contingency measures and take a pragmatic look at whether the current timeline is realistic.’ The EU Commission was contacted for comment. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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