Kenton Jarvis, the airline’s executive, said the carrier had written to EU member states calling for temporary changes to the recently introduced Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires non-EU travellers to register fingerprints and facial scans at automated checkpoints.

This appeal is focused particularly on Spain and Portugal, two of the most popular destinations for British tourists, where airport congestion has become increasingly severe since the system was fully rolled out last month.


The executive stated that Brussels had already granted countries permission to suspend the automated process where necessary to ease pressure on airports, yet only a small number had acted. He added that Greece had paused the use of the technology, while Italy had introduced limited exemptions at some airports, but many other countries continued to insist on full checks despite mounting disruption.

According to the easyJet chief, the delays have led to passengers missing flights and spending hours trapped in airport queues at the start and end of their holidays.

He criticised the handling of the situation at several European airports, claiming that large numbers of passengers were being funnelled towards a limited number of automated gates while traditional passport desks remained understaffed or unused.

The easyJet boss added that the airline had attempted to delay departures where possible for stranded passengers, although operational restrictions meant aircraft could not be held indefinitely.

He lamented that extending delays too far could disrupt later flights and prevent crews from completing scheduled services within their permitted working hours.

Kendon Jarvis also argued that countries heavily dependent on tourism should take a more flexible approach, suggesting Greece had recognised the economic benefits of simplifying arrivals for visitors.

The EES scheme, designed to reinforce border security and monitor overstays by non-EU nationals, has faced criticism since its launch due to technical issues and long processing times at major travel hubs.