{"id":80985,"date":"2026-09-05T02:50:33","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T02:50:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/80985\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T02:50:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T02:50:33","slug":"the-airports-in-greece-spain-and-france-set-to-face-five-hour-ees-queues-next-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/80985\/","title":{"rendered":"The airports in Greece, Spain and France set to face five-hour EES queues next week"},"content":{"rendered":"

British holidaymakers could face queues of up to five hours<\/a> in cities across Europe<\/a> from Monday, travel experts have warned, with EU border checks set to resume in full following a temporary pause over the summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The new Entry\/Exit System (EES) system<\/a> for British passport holders and other third-country travellers to nations within the EU or Schengen area initially came into effect in April, but member states were allowed to relax some restrictions to ease congestion at borders during peak season.<\/p>\n

However, these permissions, which included suspending biometric checks during busy periods, will expire for the 29 countries using EES on Sunday \u2013 despite several countries asking the European Commission to keep it.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tShorts\n\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tScroll to previous short
\n\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\tScroll to next short
\n\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Reform<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tHow Farage is facing his moment of maximum danger\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

\"ReformCaption: Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during a press conference at Royal Horseguards Hotel in central London. Picture date: Monday August 10, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: James Manning\/PA Wire
Photographer: James Manning
Provider: James Manning\/PA Wire
Source: PA
Copyright: PA Wire<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

How Farage is facing his moment of maximum danger<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Will Hazel<\/p>\n

Chief Political Correspondent<\/p>\n

Reform UK\u2019s annual conference has got off to a nightmarish start for Nigel Farage. <\/p>\n

The conference that was supposed to convince voters that Farage is a plausible prime minister, began with two of his key allies forced to stand aside in the wake of an explosive Channel 4 donations sting.<\/p>\n

Jukes and Orr step down<\/p>\n

Dan Jukes, perhaps Farage\u2019s closest adviser, and James Orr, the party\u2019s head of policy, have stepped down pending the outcome of an investigation into the revelations uncovered by Channel 4 and Verbatim.<\/p>\n

Thursday night\u2019s sting showed Jukes seemingly discussing a way to get round the legal ban on foreign donations and Orr potentially breaching electoral law by soliciting undeclared donations for polling which.<\/p>\n

\t
\n\t\t\"\"\/
\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

\t
\n\t\t\"\"\/
\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

\nPersonal blow to Farage\n<\/p>\n

\"DelegatesReform UK\u2019s party conference in Birmingham will feature Jordan Bardella, the rising star and president of the National Rally, who will be addressing the gathering on Friday (Photo: Oli Scarff\/AFP)<\/p>\n

Huge question remain<\/p>\n

With two of Farage\u2019s closest confidants out of action, huge questions now hang over what happens to Reform\u2019s operation in the coming weeks and months.<\/p>\n

Lack of experience<\/p>\n

While Farage will feel wounded by their loss, one senior Reform insider said the fact that Orr and Jukes had allowed themselves to get exposed highlighted the lack of experienced figures around Farage.<\/p>\n

\"ReformFor a party like Reform, which claims to believe in free speech and freedom of the press, banning journalists looks hypocritical with a capital \u2018H\u2019 (Photo: Oli Scarff\/AFP)<\/p>\n

Pair are \u2018not coming back\u2019<\/p>\n

On Friday morning, there was still confusion about the future of Jukes and Orr. <\/p>\n

Reform\u2019s formal statement said they had \u201cstepped down from their respective positions pending the outcome of the investigation\u201d, but party chairman Lee Anderson told Sky News that they \u201care not coming back\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"FILECaption: FILE PHOTO: Advisor Dan Jukes speaks to UK Reform party leader Nigel Farage before an interview ahead of Thursday\u2019s general election in Clacton-on-Sea, Britain, July 2, 2024. REUTERS\/Hollie Adams\/File Photo
Photographer: Hollie Adams
Provider: REUTERS
Source: REUTERS<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND \u2013 AUGUST 06: Reform UK\u2019s Head of Policy James Orr attends as Zia Yusuf, Reform UK\u2019s spokesman for home affairs, holds a press conference on employment policy on August 06, 2026 in London, England. Yusuf said his party would propose legislation that company CEOs and directors criminally liable for the illegal employment of migrant workers, even if they were unaware of a worker\u2019s immigration status. The policy, which the party has termed the \u201cDeliveroo Law,\u201d after the online delivery service, could fine offending companies 10 percent of their global revenues. (Photo by Leon Neal\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Leon Neal
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images<\/p>\n

\n\u2018Off the books\u2019 Reform polling\n<\/p>\n

Questions remain about how much Farage knew about what Jukes and Orr were up\u00a0to. <\/p>\n

The Channel 4 investigation included secret footage of Farage at a lunch with Jukes in which he appeared to be aware of the \u2018off the books\u2019 polling.<\/p>\n

\"(FILES)Caption: (FILES) Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage (C), talks with Dan Jukes (centre L), as he visits the area where two men were stabbed the day before, in the Golders Green neighbourhood of north London, on April 30, 2026. Two senior officials resigned from Nigel Farage\u2019s hard-right Reform UK on September 4, 2026, as the scandal-hit party was reported to the police over fresh allegations it flouted donations rules. Farage\u2019s long-term aide Dan Jukes and Reform\u2019s head of policy James Orr stepped down, the party said, adding that it had launched a probe into the allegations revealed in an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News. (Photo by CARLOS JASSO \/ AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: CARLOS JASSO
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors<\/p>\n

\"(FILES)Caption: (FILES) Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is handed a sign by Dan Jukes as he poses for members of the media at a photo shoot to publicise a slogan ahead of the local elections in May, in central London on April 10, 2026. Two senior officials resigned from Nigel Farage\u2019s hard-right Reform UK on September 4, 2026, as the scandal-hit party was reported to the police over fresh allegations it flouted donations rules. Farage\u2019s long-term aide Dan Jukes and Reform\u2019s head of policy James Orr stepped down, the party said, adding that it had launched a probe into the allegations revealed in an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS \/ AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: HENRY NICHOLLS
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors<\/p>\n

In one section of footage, Jukes appeared to suggest that Reform was receiving donations from undisclosed sources channelled via family members \u2013 something which is against the law.<\/p>\n

Controversy mounts<\/p>\n

Farage is already facing controversy over his decision to accept an undisclosed \u00a35m \u201cgift\u201d from the crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne.<\/p>\n

He also faces questions about whether he received undeclared support from convicted fraudster George Cottrell, as well as an investigation by the Met Police into whether party payments before the last election complied with electoral law. All involved deny wrongdoing. <\/p>\n

The\u00a0party has dipped in the polls. This time last year, it was riding high on an average of about 30 per cent \u2013 far ahead of Labour and the other parties. Now it\u2019s at about 23 per cent and Labour has inched in front.<\/p>\n

Reform\u2019s response <\/p>\n

\u201cMake no mistake, this was an exercise in entrapment. Let me be clear, the party has done nothing wrong, taken no illegal money. In fact, no money was taken at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader<\/p>\n

\"ReformReform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking at his party\u2019s annual conference at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham (Photo: AP)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

In July, nine countries \u2013 Greece, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Switzerland and the Netherlands \u2013 called the loophole\u2019s planned end \u201ca source of serious and legitimate concern\u201d in a letter to European Commissioner for Internal and Migration Affairs Magnus Brunner.<\/p>\n

Asked about the matter during a press briefing this week, the European Commission said it was in \u201cclose and constructive contact\u201d with the \u201cfew member states where some adjustments are needed at certain border crossing points\u201d.<\/p>\n

It added that there was a \u201cstrong joint will\u201d to make the system work and that the Commission was ready to provide \u201cadditional support\u201d to affected member states which could include \u201coperational assistance\u201d and additional officers being deployed.<\/p>\n

With the EES system set to resume in full from next week, here are some of the cities where long queues could await British travellers.<\/p>\n

Queues could last \u2018as long as five hours\u2019 at Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam<\/p>\n

John Sullivan, commercial director of Advantage Travel Partnership, the UK\u2019s largest consortium of independent travel business, said the need to address the problems surrounding EES is becoming \u201cincreasingly urgent\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough some airports may have the technology, staffing and processes in place to ensure the system operates with limited disruption, the European Commission cannot overlook the fact that nine member states are questioning its claims that the EES rollout is proceeding as planned,\u201d he told The i Paper.<\/p>\n

Sullivan suggested that British passengers at airports in capital cities such as Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam could face lengthy waits when the EES checks resume.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith some of Europe\u2019s busiest airports, including Brussels, Paris and Amsterdam, still facing the possibility of queues lasting as long as five hours, the immediate priority must be resolving the problems already being experienced before adding further layers of bureaucracy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople spend months looking forward to and saving for their holidays, and they should be able to enjoy that time creating memories rather than being stuck in airport queues. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe decision to postpone the introduction of ETIAS later this year demonstrates that pragmatic action is possible when necessary. The ongoing issues with EES now require the same level of urgency.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which other airports could be affected?<\/p>\n

Earlier this summer, budget airline Ryanair<\/a> identified seven popular European airports where passengers were already suffering long delays due to the EU border checks.<\/p>\n

The airline said airports which were particularly struggling with EES were Spain\u2019s Tenerife South, Palma, Alicante and Malaga, Milan Bergamo in Italy, Krakow in Poland and France\u2019s Paris Beauvais.<\/p>\n

These sites were \u201cnot ready\u201d to manage the high passenger volumes during the peak summer season because of \u201cinsufficient staff, kiosks and system readiness,\u201d Ryanair added.<\/p>\n

Popular destinations for British travellers such as Palma de Mallorca and Alicante \u201chave been affected quite greatly,\u201d Andrew Harrison-Chinn, chief marketing officer of travel benefits platform Dragonpass, told The i Paper in June<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Typical \u201cbottleneck\u201d destinations were smaller airports that see a large volume of British or other non-EU travellers, but lack the necessary infrastructure to efficiently channel arrivals through the system, Harrison-Chinn added.<\/p>\n

Passengers at larger European airports including Amsterdam, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Zurich have also been hit with long wait times since the new system was rolled out, particularly during peak travel times such as early mornings and weekends.<\/p>\n

Other airports which have been forced to temporarily suspend EES due to travel chaos, or where passengers have missed flights due to hours-long border queues earlier this year, include Lisbon<\/a> and Milan Linate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Passengers have been stranded due to their flight leaving without them at other airports including Athens, from where a London Luton-bound flight reportedly<\/a> left without dozens of passengers in June.<\/p>\n

The worries expressed by countries like Greece, which see high levels of travellers from the UK, raise the question of whether airports which struggled to cope with passenger traffic will have gained the capabilities to better handle demand by the time the EES checks resume from 7 September.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"British holidaymakers could face queues of up to five hours in cities across Europe from Monday, travel experts…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":80986,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[949,1998,3701,66,4219,17,357],"class_list":["post-80985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-spain","tag-airports","tag-border-control","tag-entry-exit-system","tag-europe","tag-europe-travel","tag-spain","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80985"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80985\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}