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As the half-term holiday period begins, the Port of Dover is urging ferry passengers to anticipate potential delays. This marks the first holiday season since the European Union’s new Entry Exit System (EES) was fully rolled out at external borders within the Schengen free movement area, affecting travel to popular destinations such as France and Spain. Although the system has been officially operational since 10 April, some countries have yet to activate the biometric checks, including fingerprinting and photographing travelers.
At Dover, where travelers pass through the French border before boarding cross-Channel ferries, the automated EES machines designed to capture fingerprints and photos have not yet been activated by French border officials. Despite this, border staff are still required to manually create profiles connected to the new system for each visitor, which has led to longer processing times. The port has assured passengers that if they miss their scheduled ferry departure due to these delays, they will be able to take the next available ferry. Over the coming weekend, approximately 18,000 cars and 400 coaches are expected to use the port, with Saturday anticipated as the busiest day.
To manage congestion, the Lydden Hill racing circuit has been designated as a contingency holding area for vehicles, helping to prevent local traffic disruption. Additionally, authorities have the option to suspend the EES entirely if queues become excessively long. Passengers have been advised to follow several guidelines: use only main roads to keep Dover’s town centre clear, arrive no earlier than two hours before their ferry time, have travel documents ready for inspection, take suitable rest breaks prior to arrival, bring provisions such as water and snacks, and ensure pets are well-rested before the journey.
Similar circumstances are present at other entry points. At Eurotunnel’s Folkestone terminal, French border officials have likewise not activated the biometric machines for car passengers, although manual profile creation continues. The Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras has also seen profiles being made, with some biometric checks performed, but automated machines are not yet in widespread use. Freight lorry drivers, however, have been submitting biometric data for some time. The rollout of the EES has caused some disruptions, as highlighted by an incident in April when around 100 travelers were left stranded in Milan after missing a flight to Manchester. EasyJet’s CEO Kenton Jarvis criticized the EES delays as “unacceptable” and called on European countries to utilize manual passport stamping when necessary to alleviate bottlenecks.
Despite these challenges, airlines such as EasyJet and Jet2 have reassured customers about the stability of service and fuel supplies. Travel patterns are showing a tendency towards late bookings, partly due to concerns about the Middle East conflict’s potential impact on jet fuel availability. Meanwhile, the travel association ABTA reports strong demand for destinations including Spain, Italy, the Balearic and Canary Islands, Portugal, Croatia, and Greece, with beach resorts like Majorca, Alicante, and Tenerife particularly popular. Consumers appear to be prioritizing affordability and peace of mind. On the road, the RAC predicts this late May bank holiday weekend will be the busiest in two years, with nearly 19 million trips expected
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