Lorraine Williamson
British travellers heading to Spain this summer are being warned to allow extra time at airports as pressure grows over delays linked to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System.
Spain´s airport queues warning follows renewed criticism from Ryanair, which has called on the Spanish government to suspend the rollout of EES until September. The airline says passengers travelling to and from Spain over the May Bank Holiday weekend faced “hour-long passport control queues”.
Why Ryanair wants Spain to pause EES
Ryanair argues that Spain should delay the new border checks until after the peak summer season.
The airline says passengers have already faced long waits at passport control, with families, older travellers and people with reduced mobility among those affected. In an earlier Spanish-language statement, Ryanair named airports including Málaga, Alicante, Lanzarote, Tenerife Sur, Gran Canaria, Reus and Fuerteventura as places where waits had reportedly reached between one and two hours.
The airline says staffing, kiosks and system reliability are not yet strong enough to cope with summer passenger numbers.
What is the Entry/Exit System?
EES is the EU’s new digital border system for non-EU travellers entering and leaving the Schengen Area.
It replaces manual passport stamping with digital records. Travellers may be asked to provide a facial image, fingerprints and passport details when entering or leaving. The UK government says ETIAS, the separate travel authorisation system, is expected later and that travellers do not need to apply for it now.
For British travellers, the concern is not only the system itself. It is the extra time needed when large numbers of people arrive at passport control at once.
Why this matters for Spain
Spain is one of the most important destinations for UK travellers. It is also home to many British residents who fly regularly between Spain and the UK.
That means delays at passport control are not a minor inconvenience. They can affect families, tourists, second-home owners, workers and residents returning after visits abroad.
The timing is also awkward. The summer season is about to intensify, with half-term, school holidays and August travel still ahead.
Could Spain suspend the checks?
Ryanair wants Spain to pause EES until September, but there is no confirmation that Madrid will do so.
The EU system is designed to apply across Schengen countries. However, reporting from Greece suggests some flexibility may be used during peak congestion to keep passengers moving, although authorities there have rejected the idea of a formal exemption for British travellers.
That leaves travellers facing a mixed picture across Europe.
What travellers should do now
Passengers flying between the UK and Spain should arrive earlier than usual, especially at busy airports and during peak weekend periods.
They should also check airline messages before departure, keep travel documents ready, and avoid tight onward connections where possible.
For now, there is no sign that British travellers should avoid Spain. But airport queues are likely to remain a live issue as summer demand builds.
A summer test for Spain’s airports
Spain’s airports are used to huge seasonal pressure. But EES adds a new layer of complexity at exactly the wrong time.
If checks run smoothly, the issue may fade. If queues continue, pressure on Madrid to act will only grow.
For British travellers, the message is simple: Spain remains open for summer, but passport control may take longer than expected.