Lisbon Airport Sees Long Lines After EU Border System Update

A CNN journalist posted video showing long queues at Lisbon airport on Tuesday after the EU Entry/Exit System began requiring biometric scans for non-EU travelers. The journalist stated she stood in the longest line she had ever seen and missed her flight home from Portugal. She said airport staff allowed only passengers on TAP flights to move ahead of others in line.

It requires biometric scanning for every non-EU passport holder entering the zone. The journalist described the process as involving multiple machines and lines, including fingerprint collection, before passengers could reach their gates. She added that some travelers had been warned to expect waits of up to six hours.

Similar scenes have occurred in other European cities since the rollout began, according to the journalist. Airlines have asked airports to suspend the new measures during peak summer travel. The journalist said the system affected thousands of passengers and described conditions at the airport as chaotic. She stated the next available flight after her missed departure was six hours later.