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Britons flying to Europe over Easter face 2-hour passport queues
The EU's Entry/Exit System requires biometric checks for non-EU travellers, causing two-hour queues exacerbated by Spanish airport strikes and UK transport disruptions, Airports Council International said.
- UK tourists heading to Spain this Easter face potential disruption from ground staff strikes at a dozen major airports and lengthy border queues caused by the new EU entry-exit system .
- Airlines and airports warn that the new EES, which mandates biometric registration for "third-country nationals," has caused "fundamental challenges" and persistent staffing shortages at border crossings.
- Ground staff at Groundforce and Menzies Aviation have announced indefinite strikes, with walkouts scheduled across early morning, midday and evening services threatening leisure flights to Mallorca, Malaga and the Canary Islands.
- Within the UK, travellers face rail network engineering, including a six-day closure of a major line from Good Friday, though National Highways plans to lift 1,500 miles of roadworks to ease congestion.
- Minister for Border Security Alex Norris advised that "extra time may be needed" for travel, while analysts recommend building flexible buffers into itineraries to account for potential delays and queueing.
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Portugal airports: 2-hour queues warning
If you’re flying through Portugal over the Easter holidays, especially on a non-EU passport, you may want to allow extra time. Airports are warning of queues of up to two hours at border control, just as one of the busiest travel periods of the year gets underway. The reason isn’t a strike or staff shortage this time. Instead, it comes down to the rollout of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES)… Source
·Spain
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Two-hour queues expected at European airports this Easter under new EU rules
British travellers face delays of up to two hours at European border control this Easter as the EU's entry/exit system (EES) transition period ends, with all UK passengers now required to register fingerprints and photos
·Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources10
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left, 43% Center
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
43% Center
L 43%
C 43%
14%
Factuality
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