Queues of up to one hour at security were reported by one passenger on social media, who said neither the airport or the airline they were travelling with had given any warning of delays.
“When I asked an employee how long it was taking, I was told: ‘It’s impossible to give you an estimate, sir’,” one passenger said.
One traveller said they had “never seen anything like it”.
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Read MoreOne passenger told the airport on X: “You need to get the family and assistance queue moving or tell people not to use it. Been stood in it for [over] one hour and the jobsworth is not letting people through!
In a response, Gatwick said: “We have seen some intermittent queues for airport security in the North Terminal.
Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport three hours before a long-haul flight and two hours before short-haul and prepare for security in advance.
The EU’s Entry Exit System (EES) is scheduled to be implemented in 2025, requiring third-country travellers to register their biometric details the first time they visit one of the 29 European countries using it.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of The Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “These ambitious changes, designed to enhance passenger experience and border security, may initially make air travel to the EU more challenging and time-consuming.”
The west London airport expects the number of passengers travelling through its terminals on 25 December to be 21 per cent higher than on the same day last year.
The airport made the forecast after confirming it served 6.5 million passengers last month, up 6.1 per cent from the same month last year, marking its busiest ever November.
Airlines are required to look after delayed passengers during hold-ups, which can include providing food, drinks and overnight accommodation if required.
Has your trip been affected by delays? To share your story, email alannah.francis@inews.co.uk
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