Why are UK airport queues so long this summer?

What’s driving the long UK-to-Europe airport queues

British travelers are being warned that summer airport lines could reach up to six hours in Europe due to the rollout of the EU’s Entry Exit System (EES).

EES is designed to add electronic entry/exit processing at EU borders, including for travelers arriving from non-EU countries. As airports, staff, and systems adjust to the new checks, travelers may encounter slower processing at the point where entry procedures are completed—especially during peak travel periods when passenger volumes are highest.

What this means for travel planning

• Build in extra time: Plan to arrive at the airport earlier than you normally would for the specific routing you’re taking.
• Expect variability by airport and time: Queue lengths can fluctuate widely depending on staffing and how quickly EES checks are being processed.
• Avoid last-minute changes: If you’re making connections or have tight schedules, longer border processing can have knock-on effects.

Why it matters

For many travelers, the EES transition isn’t just an inconvenience—it can affect missed connections, longer days of transit, and overall trip start-time. The practical response is straightforward: treat the border checkpoint as a potential bottleneck and adjust schedules accordingly.

If your itinerary is flexible, selecting flights that reduce tight layovers can also help buffer against delays tied to the new entry processing environment.