British holidaymakers are facing two fronts of potential disruptions to their holidays this year as both the new European EES system and flight cancellations threaten trips abroad.
EES System Causes Delays at European Airports
The new EES (Entry and Exit System) being introduced across the European Union has changed requirements for Britons entering the Schengen area. Travellers may be required to register their biometric data, such as fingerprints and a photograph, upon arrival. However, this has led to significant delays, with holidaymakers reporting queues of up to three hours at peak periods. Airports Council International Europe has warned that airports in countries such as Italy, Greece, Portugal, Germany, France and Spain have been especially impacted, leaving passengers increasingly worried about missing their flights.
The BBC reported that some passengers were unable to make their flight from Milan Bergamo to Manchester due to delays at passport control, an incident blamed on the new EES system.
Greece Exempts Britons from Biometric Registration
In response to the delays, some countries have taken action. Greece announced that Britons would be exempt from biometric registration. In a statement released on April 10, the Embassy of Greece in London said: “We would like to inform you that, within the framework of the implementation of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) as of April 10th 2026, British passport holders are excluded from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.”
Speaking to the Independent, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, Eleni Skarveli, said the exemption had been put in place to ensure “a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece”. She added: “Practically, this means that the entry process in place before the implementation of the EES will remain unchanged.”
Jet Fuel Shortage Adds to Travel Concerns
Whilst Greece may have diverged from the European Union on the EES system, Britons travelling to the country may still be concerned that their plans could be scuppered by a jet fuel shortage. Earlier this week, aviation expert John Gradek warned that “all of Europe is going to be affected by this shortage of aviation fuel”, caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of global oil passes.
Mr Gradek told Canadian network CTV: “I think it’s going to get worse before it gets any better. You’ll have short-haul flights being cancelled, long-haul flights will be rationed for fuel. So it'll be a little bit of chaos this summer in the EU. I think that if you are planning trips into Europe — and it doesn’t really matter where — I think all of Europe is going to be affected by this shortage of aviation fuel. You’re going to be in a situation where you need to make sure you have a plan B and a plan C.”
However, not everyone shares Mr Gradek’s pessimism. Holiday expert for On The Beach, Rob Brooks, claimed that flights would only be cancelled by airlines if routes became too expensive to operate, not because they had no fuel, as many purchase their fuel in advance. He told the Express: “Yes, some flights are being cancelled. But it's not because planes can't fly, or destinations are unsafe. It's because, in some cases, it's become too expensive to fly certain routes for airlines. When fuel prices spike like this, airlines have a choice: they can either run the flight and lose money, or cancel it. Occasionally, they choose to cancel it. Yes, fuel prices are rising right now. However, a lot of airlines are protected from that, especially for summer 2026 at least. Airlines like Ryanair and easyJet are well known for hedging a large portion of their fuel early, so they’re not suddenly scrambling or cancelling large numbers of flights overnight.”
