UK holidaymakers travelling to Europe this summer are being warned to prepare for long airport delays of up to four hours as new border checks come into force. The changes are part of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which will require all non-EU travellers, including those from the UK, to be photographed and fingerprinted when entering or leaving participating countries.

The system is set to become fully operational from April 10 and will apply across 29 countries in the Schengen area. Officials from the UK government and travel industry bodies are urging passengers to allow significantly more time for their journeys, warning that queues at busy airports could stretch between two and four hours.

Some travellers have already reported delays of up to two hours at passport control during the phased rollout of the system, with checks currently being carried out on a proportion of passengers. From April, however, all eligible travellers will be subject to the new requirements.

Airline groups have warned that waiting times could double during peak periods such as Easter and the summer holidays, with concerns raised over potential IT issues and staffing shortages.

There have already been cases of passengers missing flights home after being held up in queues, despite arriving at the airport within the usual recommended time. Some were forced to pay hundreds of pounds for replacement flights and accommodation.

ABTA has advised holidaymakers to plan ahead and be prepared for delays.

Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at ABTA, said travellers should consider bringing essentials with them while queuing.

“Because of the checks, you might need to prepare for delays with extra water and snacks,” he said.

The new system replaces the traditional passport stamping process and is designed to create a digital record of when non-EU visitors enter and leave the Schengen zone. It will track stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period and aims to strengthen border security and identify those who overstay.

Under the scheme, travellers’ biometric data, including fingerprints and photographs, will be recorded each time they cross a border.

A fallback system has been introduced, allowing airports and ports to temporarily revert to manual passport stamping if severe disruption occurs. However, travel experts warn that not all locations may implement this measure consistently.

With demand for European travel expected to surge in the coming months, holidaymakers are being urged to check travel advice, arrive early and prepare for longer-than-usual waits as the new system is rolled out.