British Holidaymakers Face Long EU Border Queues at Some Airports but Quick Entry at Others This Summer

British holidaymakers may encounter different border processing times this summer depending on their European destination. Travel expert Simon Calder told GB News that the rollout of the European Union’s new entry and exit scheme is producing uneven queues across the continent. Calder spoke from Croatia and noted that air travelers will face conditions that vary by airport.

He recalled half-term scenes at Dover where some passengers waited three or four hours to clear French border checks because of IT problems tied to the scheme. The new policy requires biometric data collection on a traveler’s first entry into the Schengen Area. Calder also reported long delays at check-in for the Eurotunnel shuttle from Folkestone to Calais.

The Port of Dover, the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, and Eurostar terminals all use French border police for passport checks, and accounts point to limited capacity at those facilities. Greece has chosen not to apply biometric checks immediately and requires only a passport. Calder said he cleared passport control at Mykonos in two minutes on a recent trip.

He added that Cyprus, Ireland, and Turkey are also expected to produce smoother crossings for British travelers this summer.