Portugal's Faro Airport Opens E-Gates to British Travellers After UK-EU Deal

The UK government has announced that Faro Airport in Portugal has begun allowing British travellers to use e-gates, a move expected to benefit millions of holidaymakers this summer following a Brexit 'reset' agreement with the EU. This agreement, struck on May 19, aims to ease border crossings by removing legal barriers for UK nationals to use automated e-gates across EU airports, improving efficiency and reducing long queues, which had been a major issue post-Brexit. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds highlighted that the deal cuts red tape, boosts exports, and makes travel easier, while the Prime Minister called on all EU member states to implement similar measures promptly. Although plans for e-gates at Faro had been announced previously, the recent UK-EU deal accelerated their rollout, addressing delays caused by the new biometric Entry/Exit System launching in October. Some criticism remains regarding whether enough e-gates will be operational in time to fully prevent queues, but the government remains optimistic about expanding e-gate access to other airports soon. The move signals improved UK-EU relations and a positive message to British tourists that they are welcome and wanted in popular destinations like Portugal's Algarve.