Greece Suspends EU Biometric Checks for UK Tourists Amid Airport Chaos
Greece has temporarily suspended new EU biometric border checks for British travellers in a bid to ease severe airport delays during the peak holiday season.
The decision comes after the rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires non-EU visitors, including UK holidaymakers, to undergo fingerprinting and facial recognition checks upon arrival. The system, designed to replace passport stamping and monitor visa limits, has led to queues of up to four hours at some European airports.
Greek tourism officials said the exemption would «ensure a smoother and more efficient arrival experience» and significantly reduce waiting times. The move is widely seen as an effort to protect the country’s vital tourism sector, which relies heavily on visitors from the UK.
The disruption has already caused travel chaos elsewhere in Europe. At Milan Linate Airport, more than 100 passengers missed a flight to Manchester due to long border queues, with some travellers facing overnight delays and additional costs.
Industry body ABTA has warned that insufficient staffing and lack of contingency planning are exacerbating the issue, urging authorities to temporarily scale back biometric checks during peak periods.
Greece has not confirmed how long the exemption will remain in place, but the move has sparked speculation that other Mediterranean destinations could follow suit as Europe braces for a busy summer travel season.
