Festive season EES chaos continues around Europe, but especially at Malaga

The rollout of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires biometric checks for non-EU travellers, has not become any more fluid and continues to cause major disruptions at airports across the continent, with Malaga-Costa del Sol particularly hard-hit during the busy Christmas period.

Passengers have reported waits of up to two hours or more at passport control, often due to understaffing, malfunctioning kiosks, and manual processing. Ryanair has responded by emailing customers, to encourage them to arrive at the airport at least three hours before flights in Spain, warning of “longer queues” caused by the new system.

System still in trail mode has clearly failed

EES is still in trial mode and not operating at all European airports. In the case of Malaga, it is abundantly clear that the experiment has failed, with one social media user calling on Paco de la Torre, Mayor of Malaga, to personally step in to end the chaos.

At Malaga, frustration is mounting. One passenger, posting on X on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, described “total chaos” with queues exceeding two hours and only two officers manually checking passports, sharing photos and videos of the snaking lines. “Malaga airport passport control for EU as well as non EU passport holders is in total chaos with 2 hours or more of waiting in queue. Only two officers checking manually EU passports.”

Problems all over European international airports

It’s not ideal in other European airports either. Posts are appearing from Germany  with similar messages. “I can now confirm the EU entry-exit system in Berlin is a total farce. Automatic kiosks not working, all registrations being conducted manually, with only two border police desks open. Been queuing for 40 mins and hardly moved. EU passport lane completely clear,” says Jaime Kay.

Tilly Mary Bright says, “New #EES system at European airports needs serious review. It doesn’t work and causes ridiculous delays. I’m stuck in the queue from hell and people around me are missing connections.”

According to the Portugal Post, 80 extra police officers were drafted in at Lisbon for a 15-day shift which has brought down the average wait to 60 minutes instead of the 3 to 6 hour wait passengers were suffering before, and now the airport has temporarily suspended the EES machine checks until after the Christmas period.

A Spanish complainant on Fuengirolasequeja highlighted a recent scene where “at least 200 people” risked missing flights because only one officer was working manually while 20 machines stood unused, branding it “an embarrassment” that could drive tourists away.

All nationalities suffering as airports mismanage EES

The issues extend further than just British holidaymakers returning home. Non-EU travellers from various countries face the biometric registration, and even some EU passengers have been caught in mixed queues, including Spanish travellers at Malaga airport, as the queues are not being managed correctly by the airport management with clear signage and separate queues for non-EU ID holders and those that have already had their biometric details recorded.

While Malaga, Alicante and Tenerife have seen the worst delays in Spain, reports of lengthy waits have also surfaced at airports in France, Portugal and elsewhere.

Airlines warning passengers to arrive 3 hours before flight

Airlines and airports insist teething problems are being addressed, but with peak travel ongoing, passengers are advised to heed Ryanair’s warnings and allow a lot of extra time. When will this initiative be retired and rethought? The EES will be compulsory at all European international airports come April 2026.