Peak waiting times doubled at major airports after EU's chaotic rollout of the new electronic border system. Qsensor data shows Frankfurt max 120 minutes vs 60, Munich 60 vs 31, Amsterdam 120 vs 80.

Industry warned the new system would cause bottlenecks; EU implemented Entry Exit System (EES) in April requiring fingerprints, photo, personal info from UK and other non‑EU passengers. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary called it "misdesigned" and urged online migration.

The system aims to boost security by tracking entries, catching overstayers and locating wanted persons, yet rollout marred by delays, glitches and hardware problems. Airports temporarily disabled parts of EES, e.g., fingerprint collection, to ease strain; this flexibility ends September, though several states seek extension. Since launch, 160mn entries and exits have been recorded, underscoring the system's security benefits.

Commission and airlines note average registration takes 70 seconds and impact on travellers is limited, but airlines like British Airways and easyJet highlight flashpoints and urge common sense to avoid long waits. Data shows clear anxiety among UK and North American holidaymakers.