Travel experts are suggesting that Italy and Portugal may be the next countries to eliminate EU border checks at airports. This change comes as many British holidaymakers are facing delays at European airports due to the implementation of new border regulations. The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) requires individuals from non-EU countries like the UK to have their fingerprints and photos recorded to enter the Schengen Area.

Recently, over 100 easyJet passengers encountered delays at passport control in Milan Linate airport, causing them to miss a flight to Manchester. Following Greece’s decision to suspend the new rules for UK travelers until September due to long queues, reports indicate that airports in Portugal are already allowing passengers to bypass queues during peak times. Italy is anticipated to adopt a similar approach to Greece, potentially introducing passport stamp entry procedures as the May half-term approaches. Spain, France, and Croatia might also consider similar actions.

According to Seamus McCauley from Holiday Extras, the EES rollout has faced significant challenges. He highlighted that Greece, valuing British tourists at €3.5 billion annually, chose to prioritize tourism over enforcing the flawed EES system. McCauley suggested that Italy and Portugal are likely to follow Greece’s lead, potentially leading to a domino effect with other countries opting out of the system to protect their tourism industries.

In other news, Ryanair has announced changes to its airport check-in and bag-drop services, requiring passengers to complete the process 20 minutes earlier than before. This adjustment aims to reduce the number of passengers missing flights due to delays at security and passport checks. The new policy will be effective from November 10, with Ryanair emphasizing that passengers who fail to check in on time risk being denied boarding without a refund.