Spanish Airports Take Steps to Reduce Queue Chaos for British Travelers

Spanish airports are introducing measures to ease border control disruption for British travelers.

Spanish airports are taking extra steps to reduce border control chaos for British travelers after a new digital system was introduced.

The EU's Entry/Exit System, which was fully implemented on April 10, 2026, has caused severe travel disruptions for British travelers, with long queues and missed flights.

The system requires British travelers to create a digital record and register their biometric details, leading to chaos during peak travel periods, especially at airports like Alicante, Barcelona, and Madrid.

The new measures will help British travelers visiting popular Spanish destinations like Alicante, Barcelona, and Madrid.

To reduce pressure on British travelers using the new digital border system, Spanish airports will implement changes, including diverting families and passengers with reduced mobility to a different border control point.

Airports may also stagger flight arrivals to reduce waiting times, and staff will do their best to ease the process and reduce waiting times.

These actions will help relieve disruption to British travelers, although biometric details are still required for first-time arrivals in the Schengen area.

Greece has chosen to abandon the EU requirement for British travelers to provide fingerprints and facial scans at airport border controls due to concerns about travel disruption.

The Greek Embassy stated that British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points, but it's unclear how long this exemption will last.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its travel guidance for Greece, stating that Greek authorities will not collect biometric data from UK travelers as part of the Entry/Exit System.

The new Entry/Exit System has caused significant delays at airports across Europe, with British travelers experiencing long queues and missed flights.

The system requires British travelers to create a digital record and register their biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photograph, for their first arrival in the Schengen area.

The Schengen area includes countries like Austria, Belgium, and Spain, where British travelers must comply with the new Entry/Exit System.

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