Heathrow chief Thomas Woldbye has urged EU chiefs to “take responsibility” in sorting problems with a new border system leaving holidaymakers languishing in long queues at some airports.
He stressed that the new system was not working as “fluently” as it should be as millions of families in Britain were set to head off abroad in coming weeks for their summer breaks.
Passengers have faced long queues at airports in Rome, Palma de Mallorca, Corfu, Malaga, Faro and other popular European destinations, according to videos posted on social media.
Travellers are being urged to arrive at EU airports up to four hours in advance.
Europe's border control meltdown: Brit tourists battle through hours-long queues at holiday airports as new EU passport checks spark chaos
— News News News (@NewsNew97351204) July 20, 2026
British tourists are battling through hours-long queues at holiday airports as the new EU passport checks spark chaos.
Footage circulating… pic.twitter.com/YfPgOXnhvO
The delays are due to the new digital Entry Exit System (EES).
It requires non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area, made up of 29 European countries, to register fingerprints and a photo when they arrive, often using standalone ‘kiosk’ automated machines.
The details are checked when people leave.
The new system has been phased in since October but is still being plagued by problems and delays.
“The EU has now put in place more flexibility for the airports to suspend the ES for periods if the pressure is too high,” Heathrow chief executive Mr Woldbye told The Standard.
“That's a good decision.”
But he said there was still a risk of longer waiting times when entering EU countries.
“We are, of course, encouraging both the UK government and the EU to make this as flexible as all possible,” he added.
“Nobody wants to to stand in a long queue getting into and starting their vacation.
“The system is not working as fluently as it should be doing, and the EU needs to take responsibility for that.”
Earlier this month, Ryanair identified seven popular European airports where passengers were suffering long delays because of new EU border checks.
It said airports which were particularly struggling with the EES system were Tenerife South, Palma, Alicante and Malaga, all in Spain; Milan Bergamo in Italy; Krakow in Poland; and France’s Paris Beauvais.
Ivan Bassato, chief aviation officer of Rome's Fiumicino airport, said that the time it takes Brits to get through the borders has risen from seven minutes to 20 minutes.
EasyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis said the border control queues at airports due to the EES checks had been better than feared for the start of the school holidays, as countries have been given flexibility on how to put the requirements in place at times of stress.
He is now calling for this flexibility to be extended past September, to cover the often busy half-term school holiday season in October.
Mr Woldbye also urged people flying out of Heathrow to allow plenty of time, two hours for European flights and longer for more far-flung destinations.
Pressed what allowing an extra half an hour could mean, he explained: “It makes a huge difference because it gives you that certainty that you don't have to rush.
“People rushing is never a positive experience.”
He was speaking as Heathrow announced that a record 40 million passengers had used the west London airport in the first half of 2026, with revenue up 0.3% to £1,729 million.
Heathrow also insisted its plans for a third runway were on track despite the change of Government.
Mr Woldbye declined to be drawn on whether Andy Burnham’s government may look less favourably on expanding the west London airport, than Sir Keir’s administration, given its focus on boosting Britain’s regions.
But he said: “This is not going to attract any investments away from the North.
“The monies invested in the third runway at Heathrow are private. They would go to another country. They wouldn't go elsewhere in the UK.
“So in my view, actually, this rather supports the Government in its ability to invest in the regions outside London because we invest in the third runway in London, which benefits all of the country.”
