Portugal and Italy Will Not Suspend Digital Border Checks for Brits

Why It Matters

The decision keeps UK travelers subject to time‑consuming border checks, potentially affecting airline schedules and holiday plans during the busiest travel season.

Key Takeaways

• Portugal, Italy keep biometric checks for all nationals
• EU Entry‑Exit System remains fully enforced despite delays
• Greek airports temporarily suspend checks for British travelers
• Long queues caused missed EasyJet and Ryanair flights
• Airlines cut 13,000 flights amid soaring fuel prices

Pulse Analysis

The European Union’s Entry‑Exit System (EES) was introduced to modernise border control by recording biometric data for every short‑term visitor entering or leaving the Schengen area. Launched in October 2023 and slated for full operation on 10 April, the system aims to improve security and streamline migration monitoring. In practice, however, the mandatory fingerprint and facial‑scan procedures have overwhelmed airport processing capacities, creating queues that sometimes extend beyond an hour. For travelers from the United Kingdom, who now face the same checks as other third‑country nationals, the delays have translated into missed connections and heightened travel anxiety.

Portugal and Italy’s refusal to grant a blanket exemption for British citizens underscores the EU’s commitment to uniform enforcement of the EES. While Greece has informally paused biometric checks for UK passengers to prevent severe disruptions during the summer holiday rush, the European Commission has warned that such ad‑hoc suspensions cannot become permanent policy. The divergent approaches highlight the tension between security objectives and operational realities at busy gateways like Milan’s Linate and Bergamo airports, where airlines reported passengers missing EasyJet and Ryanair flights after prolonged passport‑control bottlenecks.

Beyond border procedures, the timing coincides with a volatile fuel market that has forced airlines to cancel roughly 13,000 flights worldwide for May, representing about 1 % of scheduled services. The combination of biometric bottlenecks and rising jet‑fuel costs puts additional strain on carriers already navigating capacity constraints. Travelers are being urged to allow extra time at airports and consider flexible ticket options, while policymakers may need to refine the EES rollout to balance security goals with the practical demands of a high‑volume summer travel season.