Travelers at Milan’s Linate airport faced a chaotic scene this past Sunday as the rollout of a new European Union border system left more than 100 passengers stranded. The disruption centered on an EasyJet flight to Manchester, which departed while the vast majority of its passengers were still trapped in biometric passport control queues.
The incident highlights the immediate friction caused by the EU entry-exit system, a digital border control mechanism that became fully operational on Friday. The system requires third-country nationals, including British citizens, to provide biometric data—including facial scans and fingerprints—when entering and leaving the Schengen free travel zone according to the BBC.
For many, the transition to this digital frontier was a “nightmare.” Some passengers reported vomiting and passing out while waiting in lines that stretched for hours. The scale of the disruption was stark: of the 156 passengers booked on EasyJet flight 5420 to Manchester, only 34 actually boarded the plane, leaving 122 people behind in Italy as reported by The Independent.
The Human Cost of Border Delays
The fallout for individual travelers has been both financial and emotional. Max Hume, a teacher from West Yorkshire, traveled with his wife Lynsey and their 13-year-old son Archie. Despite arriving at the terminal nearly three hours before their scheduled departure, the family watched their flight abandon without them.
Mr. Hume described the experience as “just awful – just a mess” and stated he felt “gutted, upset, let down, absolutely shattered and poorer.” After checking in luggage, the family reached passport control at 9:15 a.m. With only a few people ahead of them. however, because a gate had not yet been assigned for the flight, staff informed them that their passports could not be checked via The Independent.
The financial burden of the delay was significant. When EasyJet staff offered a rebooking on the next available flight—which was five days later—for £330, the Hume family instead spent more than £1,600 to secure a connecting flight via Luxembourg to receive home 24 hours late according to The Independent. Other passengers similarly reported spending thousands of pounds to arrange alternative travel back to the UK.
Understanding the Entry-Exit System (EES)
The Entry-Exit System (EES) is designed to automate the registration of third-country nationals. By replacing the manual stamping of passports with a digital record of entries and exits, the EU aims to better monitor the duration of stays and identify persons who overstay their visas.
Under the new rules, travelers must undergo biometric and facial recognition checks. While intended to streamline long-term security, the initial implementation has caused severe bottlenecks. ACI Europe, representing airports and A4E, representing European airlines, reported that passenger waiting times at border control reached two to three hours during peak periods via the BBC.
The disruption at Milan Linate was particularly acute. In one instance, no passengers had arrived at the departure gate by the time it was scheduled to close; only 12 passengers appeared 90 minutes after the scheduled closing time according to the BBC.
Why the Chaos Occurred
A critical change in policy contributed to the Sunday backlog. Until last week, border authorities possessed the power to suspend the operation of the EES entirely if waiting times became excessive. With that flexibility removed or altered, passengers were forced to wait through the biometric checks regardless of the queue length via the BBC.
Institutional Responses and Next Steps
EasyJet has expressed regret over the situation, stating it is “sorry for any inconvenience caused.” The airline confirmed that stranded passengers would be offered free transfers to alternative flights according to The Independent. In a statement to the BBC, the airline acknowledged that passengers departing from Milan Linate experienced “longer than usual waiting times” via National World.
The EU entry-exit system is now fully operational, meaning these biometric requirements are the new standard for non-EU citizens traveling within the Schengen zone. Travelers are advised to allow significant extra time for departure formalities to avoid missing flights.
Key Takeaways for Travelers
- Biometric Requirements: Third-country nationals must now provide fingerprints and facial scans upon entry and exit of the Schengen zone.
- Increased Wait Times: Peak-time delays of two to three hours have been reported at various European borders.
- Airline Advice: Carriers like EasyJet are urging passengers to arrive at terminals much earlier than previously required to account for digital border checks.
- Impact: Failures in the system’s efficiency have already led to hundreds of missed flights and significant unplanned expenses for travelers.
As European airports and airlines continue to navigate the operational disruptions caused by the EES, the focus remains on whether the EU will reintroduce the ability to suspend the system during extreme congestion to prevent further passenger stranding.
We invite our readers to share their own experiences with the new EU border controls in the comments below.