British travellers heading to Europe this summer will still face fingerprint and facial recognition checks in Portugal and Italy, despite speculation that some countries might ease the new rules to reduce airport disruption.
Portugal and Italy will not suspend digital border checks for Brits
The European Commission confirmed that neither country plans to exempt UK citizens from the European Union’s new Entry-Exit System (EES), which requires non-EU visitors to register biometric information when entering and leaving the Schengen travel area.
Recent reports had suggested Portugal and Italy could follow Greece’s approach after Greek border authorities reportedly scaled back biometric processing for British passengers at certain crossings to prevent severe delays during the busy holiday season. However, officials in Lisbon and Rome have not adopted similar measures, according to the BBC.
Long queues continue at European airports
The EES system, introduced last year as part of the EU’s wider border modernisation programme, has already caused significant congestion at several major airports across Europe. British passengers have been among the worst affected, with reports of travellers waiting for extended periods at passport control and, in some cases, missing scheduled departures.
Airlines operating routes between Italy and the UK have raised concerns about the impact on customers. In April, dozens of passengers reportedly missed flights from Milan after long queues formed at biometric checkpoints. Budget carriers warned that delays at passport control were becoming increasingly difficult to manage during peak travel periods.
Summer travel pressures mount
The continuation of strict biometric checks comes as airlines face additional operational challenges ahead of the summer holiday rush. Rising aviation fuel prices and concerns over fuel supply logistics have already forced carriers worldwide to reduce flight schedules in recent weeks.
Despite these pressures, travel authorities and airlines continue to advise passengers not to cancel holidays or alter plans unnecessarily.
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