Britons Face Long EU Airport Queues Despite New E-Gate Deal

Despite a recent agreement between the UK and the EU to allow British travellers to use e-gates across Europe, long passport queues are expected to persist well into 2026. The EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES), set to come into force in October, requires non-EU travellers including Britons to provide biometric data such as fingerprints and facial scans, which will likely increase wait times. While Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hailed the deal as a breakthrough that will end 'huge queues at passport control,' the implementation depends on individual EU member states and will be phased in over six months, meaning immediate relief is unlikely. Experts like former UK Border Force director Tony Smith warn that e-gates alone will not alleviate delays without additional measures to address the EES requirements. The UK government and travel associations continue to press EU countries to expedite the process, emphasizing the benefits of faster entry for both travellers and authorities. However, Britons should prepare for ongoing border friction, particularly during the upcoming summer travel season.