New EU border check system causes travel delays at Dover and airports
The introduction of a new EU border check system at the start of the summer holiday season has caused significant delays for travelers at Dover and UK airports.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
New EU border check system causes travel delays at Dover and airports
The introduction of the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) has led to significant delays for British holidaymakers at the start of the summer holiday season. The system, which replaces passport stamping with digital checks, requires non-EU travellers to provide fingerprints and a photograph on first entry. Subsequent trips involve biometric verification against stored data.
At the Port of Dover, queues of around 45 minutes were reported on Friday, with around 10,000 cars expected to cross to France. The port said staff were prepared but warned of unpredictability. This follows major delays during the May half-term, when wait times reached four and a half hours. Drivers have been advised to use main roads and arrive no more than two hours before their booked departure.
At airports, the situation varies. Bristol Airport expects 110,000 passengers this weekend. The aviation industry warns that with 20 million more people crossing Schengen borders this month, queues could extend to five hours. Some passengers have already missed flights, particularly at Italian airports. The boss of Rome's main airport said waiting times at passport control have tripled, and queues could reach six hours at some destinations.
The EES is implemented on UK soil only at Dover, the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, and St Pancras International for Eurostar passengers. Elsewhere, checks are done on arrival in the EU. There is no app to pre-register biometrics, so travellers must go through the process at the border.
Travel experts advise following the guidance of your travel company or airline. For return journeys, allow extra time as delays have been reported on the way back. Those who miss flights on a package holiday should speak to their travel company; independent travellers may not be covered by insurance.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC NEWS | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation and airport officials warned of significant increases in waiting times at passport control, with queues potentially reaching five to six hours and waiting times tripling at some airports. | · | · | ||
| EES border checks are being implemented at Dover, St. Pancras, and Folkestone on UK soil. | · | · | ||
| The EES involves passport details and biometric checks such as facial scans and fingerprints. | · | · | ||
| Around 10,000 cars were expected to travel to France via Dover on the day. | · | · | · | |
| Around 110,000 passengers were expected to pass through Bristol Airport over the weekend. | · | · | · | |
| Gibraltar and Spain lifted border checks after a UK-EU treaty allowing free movement. | · | · | · | |
| No app exists to pre-register biometric details for the EES. | · | · | · | |
| Port staff at Dover were prepared and knew the procedures for the EES system. | · | · | · | |
| Some passengers have missed flights due to delays caused by the new EES system. | · | · | · | |
| The aviation industry says about 20 million more people will cross Schengen borders this month. | · | · | · | |
| Travel insurance policies vary and may not cover missed flights due to border delays. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News did not cover the EU border check story. Its broadcast focused entirely on other topics: US-Iran military strikes, a UK social media curfew for teenagers, a Gibraltar-Spain border treaty, and the World Cup semi-final between Spain and France. No mention of travel delays or the new entry-exit system.
ITV1 provided the most practical, advice-driven coverage. The Lunchtime News segment featured an interview with ABTA's Emma Brennan, focusing on what travellers should do at Dover and airports, insurance implications, and the difference between package and independent bookings. The West Country bulletin included an interview with travel expert Simon Calder, warning of queues up to five hours and highlighting problems at Italian airports. The tone was helpful and cautionary, with a strong emphasis on preparation for the return journey.
- “the best thing to do is to follow the advice of your travel company”
- “queues could extend to up to five hours because people simply take a lot of time to get processed”
- “some people have missed flights with this, haven't they?”
Sky News focused on live conditions at Dover, reporting 45-minute queues and advising drivers to arrive two hours early. The segment included an interview with Simon Calder about return journey delays. The tone was factual and alert, with an emphasis on the unpredictability of the system and the need for extra time when coming back from Europe.
- “Wait times of around 45 minutes is what we're being told.”
- “get to the airport really early. The airlines are saying three hours.”
5 News gave a brief, headline-style summary of the story, citing the boss of Rome's main airport to highlight that waiting times at passport control have tripled and queues could reach six hours. The coverage was concise and alarm-focused, with no practical advice or interviews. The bulletin also included a separate item about the World Cup final half-time show.
- “Waiting times at passport control have tripled for British holiday makers this summer because of the EU's new border system, says the boss at Rome's main airport.”
- “queues could reach six hours at some destinations.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.