The European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) has caused significant operational failures at a major tourist airport, with passport control gates crashing multiple times and creating substantial delays for travellers. The incidents have raised serious concerns about potential chaos during upcoming peak holiday periods, including the Easter break and summer holidays.
System Failures at Gran Canaria Airport
Gran Canaria Airport, a crucial travel hub for British tourists visiting the Canary Islands, experienced complete breakdowns of its automated passport gates on two separate occasions. The first incident occurred on December 30, 2025, followed by another failure on January 10, 2026. During both events, the electronic gates suddenly displayed red error indicators, forcing airport staff to implement manual processing procedures.
Passenger Experiences and Delays
A British traveller present during both incidents described the chaotic scenes to the Daily Mail. 'The European entry/exit system caused all the passport gates to crash on my way into Gran Canaria AND the way out,' they reported. 'It delayed my flight back as obviously none of the Brits could get on the plane.'
The witness explained that security personnel had to be deployed to manually stamp passports when the automated system failed completely. 'They had to wheel out security guards to come and stamp us all, because the system completely shut down so many times,' they added.
Operational Challenges and Passenger Frustration
The new biometric requirements have already created challenges for travellers unfamiliar with the technology. 'There are queues anyway because it's quite tricky for a lot of people to master the finger printing,' the passenger noted. However, when the system failed for the second time, airport staff abandoned fingerprint verification entirely and directed passengers to security checkpoints.
The situation created visible frustration among travellers, with the witness reporting that 'many disgruntled passengers to start swearing' as they faced mounting delays. During the January 10 incident, passengers could see their planes boarding while stuck in passport control queues, creating what the traveller described as a 'nail biting' experience.
Broader Implications for Holiday Travel
The repeated system failures have sparked warnings about potential widespread disruption during upcoming holiday periods. The witness expressed particular concern about 'Half term, Easter and the summer holidays,' predicting they 'will be an utter horror show!' if the technical issues persist.
About the Entry/Exit System
The EES represents a significant change in border management for non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area, including UK citizens following Brexit. The automated digital system requires travellers to register biometric details such as fingerprints and facial photographs upon entry and exit.
Although the rollout began in October 2025, airports and ports have until April 2026 to fully implement the technology. The system has already caused substantial delays at various border points, with some passengers reporting missed flights due to extended processing times.
Implementation Progress and Challenges
Initially, EU member states were required to register only 10% of third-country arrivals through the new system, but this threshold has since increased to 35%. The gradual implementation aims to allow border authorities and travellers to adapt to the new procedures, though the technical failures at Gran Canaria suggest significant teething problems remain.
Airport staff have faced considerable pressure managing the transition, with the witness noting that 'The poor staff are all so frazzled!!' as they contend with system failures and frustrated passengers.
Looking Ahead
The incidents at Gran Canaria Airport highlight the operational challenges facing the EES implementation. With major holiday periods approaching, authorities face mounting pressure to resolve technical issues and streamline processes to prevent widespread travel disruption.
The Daily Mail has contacted Gran Canaria Airport for comment regarding the system failures and mitigation plans for future peak travel periods. The repeated crashes serve as a warning to both travellers and border authorities about the need for robust contingency planning as the new border system becomes fully operational across European entry points.
