Summer 2026 is proving to be a time of uncertainty for vacationers. Issues with jet fuel and new regulations for British individuals entering the European Union (EU) are causing concerns about potential delays, cancellations, and extended airport wait times.
Despite these challenges, there is a lesser-known provision in the EES regulations that could offer relief for Brits traveling to Europe this summer. This clause could be activated if the queues at European airports become excessively long.
Various countries are already taking steps to address the disruptions caused by EES. For instance, Greece has transitioned from using EES to manual passport stamping to streamline the entry process. However, rumors suggesting that Italy and Portugal might adopt similar measures have been dismissed by Brussels.
In cases of “exceptional circumstances,” there are exemptions within the EES system that could be implemented, particularly if the new procedures overwhelm EU airports.
A parliamentary briefing indicates that the European Commission has raised the possibility that EU nations could suspend EES operations for up to an additional 150 days following the initial implementation date on April 10.
This suspension could last up to six hours in situations with excessive waiting times. Consequently, until July 9, certain borders could have the authority to suspend EES for up to six hours daily.
The legislation stipulates that Member States should only invoke this option when absolutely necessary and for the shortest duration possible. In instances of partial suspension, biometric data registration in the EES would be halted, and in cases of full suspension, no data would be recorded in the EES.
Since the introduction of the new system, there have been mixed reviews about its effectiveness. Some travelers have experienced long queues at airports, attributing the delays to slow software and technical malfunctions, while others have observed minimal changes in their airport transit times.
Furthermore, later this year, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will also be enforced, requiring British citizens to obtain pre-travel authorization before entering the EU. The cost of this visa waiver system was initially set at €7, equivalent to just over £6, but it has now been adjusted to €20, approximately £17.37, nearly three times the original fee. All travelers aged 18-70 will be required to apply for authorization before their journey once the new system is launched.