British Tourists Face Chaos at Ibiza Airport Due to New EU Digital Border System
British tourists have experienced significant disruptions while departing from Ibiza airport, as the new European Union (EU) digital border system has failed to function properly for UK passengers. The issue has led to long queues and delays, with many travelers having to wait twice during their journey—once when entering the island and again when leaving.
Passengers now need to complete a biometric registration at a self-service kiosk upon arrival in Ibiza. This involves scanning their fingerprints and facial features. When they leave the country, they must go through the same process again to confirm their departure. Previously, all that was required was showing their passports to immigration officers.
One British tourist described the situation as “an absolute joke,” noting that even during a relatively quiet time of year, the system was causing chaos. They added that during peak times, such as school summer holidays, the situation could become even worse. “Queuing twice is such a waste of time and we’re lucky we didn’t miss our plane,” they said.
Introduction of the EU’s New Digital Entry/Exit System
The European Union’s new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) was first introduced in October last year and was intended to be fully operational by 10 April. This system requires most short-term visitors from outside the EU and the European Economic Area to register biometric data each time they enter or leave the Schengen free travel zone.
However, the rollout of the EES has caused long queues at various European airports over the past few weeks. Experts warn that delays could worsen during the summer holiday season. In response, Greece’s tourism minister, Olga Kefalogianni, confirmed that British visitors will not face biometric checks at the border during the summer to prevent further delays.
Slow Rollout and Challenges Across Europe
The new Entry/Exit System, known as EES, has been gradually implemented across Europe since October, with 29 countries now adopting the new biometric border control process. However, many countries are still not ready for the system, according to experts.
Chaotic scenes and lengthy delays were reported at airports across Europe on 10 April, when the new digital border controls officially came into effect. Travelers in cities such as Lisbon, Milan, and Paris described waiting “for hours” at terminals to clear immigration.
According to the Airports Council International, data collected from European airports shows a continued deterioration in waiting times at border crossing points where EES has been introduced. Delays are regularly reaching up to two hours during peak traffic times, with some airports reporting even longer queues.
The trade body warned that hubs in Germany, France, Iceland, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal were particularly impacted by the changes.
Criticism from Ryanair CEO Over System Implementation
The implementation of the EES has also drawn criticism from the CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary. He accused the EU of punishing British holidaymakers over Brexit by subjecting them to long passport control queues. O’Leary, who supported the Remain campaign in the referendum, claimed the bloc was “undoubtedly” forcing Britons to endure longer waits at airports as payback for leaving the EU in 2020.
He highlighted that there had been “significant disruption” at passport control since the new system was first introduced in October last year. While the system is being rolled out in stages, with full operation expected from April 2026, it has already caused backlogs and increased waiting times for passengers.
“We are beginning to see significant disruption. That’s the next big issue. And EES has just been a s* show and a shambles,” O’Leary told The Times. He suggested that EU states could defer the implementation of EES for five months until the end of September, arguing that this would make “much more sense” to avoid worsening the situation during the summer holidays.
O’Leary added that there was a “bit of Brexit in this too.” He sarcastically remarked, “Here, you voted for Brexit – f*g join the queue.”
He also pointed out that understaffed immigration kiosks were contributing to further delays. Additionally, passengers who had already registered under the new system were being placed in the same queue as everyone else. He warned that smaller airports, such as those in Seville, Alicante, Tenerife, and Faro, were likely to be most affected by these delays.
