'Chaos' at Spanish airport as 'several hundred' passengers stuck in queues

The implementation of the EES has caused 'chaos' at airports across Europe(Image: Lucy North/PA Wire)

A travel expert has warned of 'chaos' at Palma Airport in Spain following the implementation of the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES).

UK travellers now face new data checks at European airports as the EES has been fully implemented across 29 countries in the Schengen area, including Spain, Italy and Greece.

The new system means UK holidaymakers now have to 'create a digital record' when they first travel to the Schengen area. This will require travellers to provide additional information upon arrival at the border, replacing the previous system of passport stamping.

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However, the introduction of the system has led to significant travel disruptions, including 'chaos' at Palma Airport in Spain, according to travel expert Rory Boland.

The Which? travel writer described the queue for British passport holders being 'several hundred people deep' and 'hours long'. Rory also said that while he was there, there were just 'five or six' border control stations open to UK passport holders.

Rory described seeing 'tears and anger' in the queues, with staff members being 'inconsistent' in which passengers they called forward and for which flights.

He said: "Some people had stood for hours, only to find out they were still unlikely to make their flight, and were upset when other passengers were called forward. There was no one in charge, or any attempt to communicate with passengers about the situation.

"The one member of airline staff present was from Jet2, whom I regularly saw remonstrating with disinterested staff on behalf of her customers. You can understand why passengers were angry.

"They arrived at the airport early, as instructed, but the airport was so poorly prepared for the new checks that they were still at risk of missing their flight. Worse still, if they did, they may well be left to foot the bill for a new ticket."

Explaining why the queues and delays are so significant, Rory said: "The EES requires Schengen countries to carry out biometric checks on arrival and departure. Non-EU passport holders are photographed and/or fingerprinted on departure, which is taking longer than a quick flick of your passport by a border guard.

"These checks may only add a minute or two extra for an individual passenger, but for a flight of 300 passengers, it adds up. Many airports simply have not installed enough infrastructure to carry out the checks, don't have enough staff, or both."

Other disruption which has taken place since the full implementation of the EES was when hundreds of people missed their flights after being stuck in queues at an airport in Milan last weekend.

One mum from Oldham found herself unable to get back home for her children and work after being stuck in a queue at the airport for four hours, only to be told her flight back to Manchester had taken off without her. She has since had to cover the extra expense of staying in Italy for longer as the next available flight back was five days after her original departure date.

Representative body Airports Council International recently reported that EES was causing delays of up to three hours, with airports in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy among the worst affected.

Palma Airport did not provide a comment and Jet2 has been approached.