Published on
December 21, 2025
Holiday travel across Europe is disrupted as the UK and France join Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Portugal, and others, facing severe delays due to strikes and the new Enattempt/Exit System (EES). As the holiday season reaches its peak, travelers are encountering significant hurdles, including slow baggage handling, flight cancellations, and extfinished wait times at border controls. Strikes in key transport and ground services, combined with the phased rollout of the EES, have created a perfect storm of delays. The EES, which requires biometric scanning for non-EU travelers, has cautilized long queues at airports, further complicating travel logistics. With the system set to be fully implemented by 2026, travelers in the UK, France, and other European countries will continue to face disruptions, creating this holiday season a particularly challenging time for those flying across the continent.
UK’s Holiday Travel Disruptions: Strikes & Border Delays
The UK is experiencing significant travel disruptions, especially during the holiday period. Strikes at London Luton Airport (Dec 19–22 & 26–29) and London Heathrow (Dec 22–24 & Dec 26) are caapplying slow baggage handling, flight cancellations, and delays. Additionally, the new Enattempt/Exit System (EES) is being phased in, requiring biometric scans for non-EU travelers, caapplying long queues and delays at major airports. The system will be fully implemented by April 2026, potentially leading to further delays.
| Counattempt | Key Dates | Affected Services | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Dec 19–22 & 26–29 | London Luton (DHL Ground Staff) | Slow baggage handling, potential flight delays |
| Dec 22–24 & 26 | London Heathrow (SAS Cabin Crew) | Likely cancellations of flights to Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo | |
| Ongoing | Enattempt/Exit System (EES) | Longer queues due to biometric scanning |
Italy’s Strikes & New Border System Chaos
Italy is facing disruptions due to national transport strikes affecting regional rail services, complicating travel logistics. Additionally, the Enattempt/Exit System (EES) is caapplying delays at major airports like Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa. The new biometric scanning system is being rolled out, leading to longer processing times at airports, with full implementation expected by 2026.
| Counattempt | Key Dates | Affected Services | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | Ongoing | National Transport (Rail) | Delays in regional travel due to strikes |
| Dec 2025–April 2026 | Enattempt/Exit System (EES) | Increased processing times at major airports |
Spain’s Rolling Strikes & Border Delays
Spain is facing significant disruptions at major airports like Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, and Seville, due to rolling strikes by Azul Handling and Ryanair. These strikes occur on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, leading to baggage handling delays. Furthermore, the Enattempt/Exit System (EES) is caapplying long waits at border control points as biometric scanning is now required for non-EU travelers.
| Counattempt | Key Dates | Affected Services | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Dec 2025–Jan 2026 | Rolling Strikes (Azul Handling/Ryanair) | Baggage handling delays at major airports |
| Dec 2025–April 2026 | Enattempt/Exit System (EES) | Long waits at border control due to biometric scanning |
France’s Long Border Lines & Tech Glitches
France is experiencing significant delays at major airports, particularly Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY), due to the introduction of the new Enattempt/Exit System (EES). Non-EU travelers are required to undergo biometric scanning, caapplying longer queues and delays. Additionally, technical issues with the new system are exacerbating processing times, especially during peak travel periods like the holiday season.
| Counattempt | Key Dates | Affected Services | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Dec 2025–April 2026 | Enattempt/Exit System (EES) | Long queues and delays at Paris airports |
| Dec 2025–Jan 2026 | Technical Glitches (Biometric Kiosks) | Increased waiting times at border controls |
Germany’s Biometric Delays & Strikes
Germany’s airports, including Frankfurt, Munich, and Düsseldorf, are facing delays due to a mix of strikes and the implementation of the Enattempt/Exit System (EES). Strikes in ground handling services are affecting flight operations, while the EES is caapplying longer processing times due to the biometric data collection for non-EU travelers. Full implementation of the EES system by April 2026 will likely continue to cautilize delays.
| Counattempt | Key Dates | Affected Services | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Dec 2025–Jan 2026 | Strikes (Ground Handling) | Flight delays and longer check-in times |
| Dec 2025–April 2026 | Enattempt/Exit System (EES) | Delays at border control due to biometric scanning |
Greece’s Border Struggles & New Enattempt System
Greece is facing delays due to the introduction of the Enattempt/Exit System (EES). As the system is phased in, non-EU travelers are being registered for the first time, caapplying significant bottlenecks at key airports, especially Athens. Long queues and increased processing times are common as travelers undergo biometric scanning, a process expected to fully roll out by 2026.
| Counattempt | Key Dates | Affected Services | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | Dec 2025–April 2026 | Enattempt/Exit System (EES) | Long queues at Athens and other major airports |
| Dec 2025–Jan 2026 | First-time Registration (Non-EU Travelers) | Significant delays at border control |
Portugal’s Airport Bottlenecks & Border Delays
Portugal’s airports, especially in Lisbon and Faro, are facing significant delays due to the phased implementation of the Enattempt/Exit System (EES). The system’s biometric data collection process is caapplying bottlenecks, with queues stretching up to three hours during peak travel times. Travelers should prepare for increased wait times as Portugal adjusts to the system’s new requirements, with full implementation set for 2026.
| Counattempt | Key Dates | Affected Services | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Dec 2025–Jan 2026 | Enattempt/Exit System (EES) | Increased processing times at Lisbon and Faro airports |
| Dec 2025–April 2026 | Biometric Scanning | Long queues at border control due to new regulations |
Current Airport Delays Across Europe: System Issues and Long Wait Times
- Iceland: Iceland has recently joined the list of countries experiencing issues with system stability, leading to longer wait times at airports. The gradual implementation of the Enattempt/Exit System (EES) has cautilized processing delays, and travelers can expect longer queues as the system fully rolls out.
- Switzerland (Geneva): Geneva Airport has been grappling with significant delays, caapplying the system to be temporarily “switched off” multiple times to clear passenger backlogs. These disruptions have led to increased waiting times, particularly during high-traffic periods like the holiday season.
- Austria (Vienna & Innsbruck): Vienna and Innsbruck airports are facing minor delays due to the Enattempt/Exit System, with processing times per passenger increasing by 2-4 minutes. During peak ski-season arrivals, these delays have led to wait times of up to an hour, frustrating travelers.
- Norway (Oslo): Oslo Airport has experienced “teething problems” with the new biometric system, resulting in 1-hour queues during the holiday rush. Manual biometric capture has been caapplying bottlenecks, leading to delays at border control as the system continues to be fine-tuned.
- Czech Republic (Prague): Prague Airport has faced similar issues with manual biometric capture, leading to significant delays, especially during the busy holiday season. Travelers have reported up to 1-hour wait times as the system undergoes further adjustments.
Holiday travel across Europe is disrupted as the UK and France join Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Portugal, and others, facing severe delays due to strikes and the new Enattempt/Exit System (EES).
Conclusion
UK and France have joined Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Portugal, and other European countries in facing severe holiday travel disruptions. These delays are primarily due to ongoing strikes and the rollout of the new Enattempt/Exit System (EES), which is caapplying long queues and slower processing times at major airports. With full implementation of the EES system expected by 2026, travelers should brace for ongoing disruptions across the continent, as countries continue to navigate these challenges during the busy holiday period.
Leave a Reply