Britons will still face long airport queues despite Brexit reset e-gates deal ...Middle East

British holidaymakers are still likely to face long queues at European airports this summer and beyond, despite an agreement in principle to let them use fast-track passport lanes.

Sir Keir Starmer said his deal with the EU would bring an end to “huge queues at passport control” by allowing UK citizens to use e-gates, which are currently restricted to European travellers in most countries.

But the arrangement still has to be signed off by individual member states, meaning there is no guarantee the new arrangements will be in place by the summer holidays.

And the Prime Minister was forced to admit that Britons will also face delays when a tougher entry system is introduced by the EU later this year, forcing them to provide fingerprints and a facial scan.

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Currently, EU citizens can use e-gates, which tend to be much faster, at British ports and airports, but UK travellers must get their passports stamped when arriving in most European countries.

These post-Brexit rules have caused queues which can sometimes be hours long at EU holiday hotspots. Heralding an agreement with Brussels chiefs on economic and security co-operation on Monday, Starmer said: “Today’s deal will also help British holidaymakers, confirming that they will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues at passport control. And I call on all EU members to help make this a reality without delay.”

He refused to commit to a timeline for the move, saying only: “I want it done as soon as possible, and that’s why I urged member states now to do it.”

British citizens are still expected to be forced to sign up to the EU’s new entry/exit system (EES), which is due to take effect in October and will make travellers queue up to provide biometric data the first time they go to the continent once it is in force.

Asked by The i Paper whether travellers would still face queues without a deal on EES, the Prime Minister said: “We want to reduce the friction as much as possible, I think there are probably some one-off measures that any new system is bound to need, but I want people to be able to cross borders quickly, easily, and I think e-gates is a really important step in the right direction.”

It is understood that the UK will continue to push the European Commission for a carve-out to avoid chaos at ports and airports EES is introduced.

Major travel firms welcomed the new agreement but called for further clarity on how the promise to let British citizens use e-gates will be implemented.

Mark Tanzer, chief executive of the travel association ABTA, said: “The agreements around e-gates and pet passports will make it easier for travellers, cutting down on queues and pre-holiday admin. There are, of course, more border changes coming down the line, including the EU entry/exit system planned for October 2025. It is vital we continue to see good co-operation between the UK and EU on the introduction of this scheme, to make it as streamlined as possible for UK travellers.”

Neil Swanson of TUI added: “I’m thrilled that British holidaymakers will have access to more e-gates across Europe, making travel smoother and reducing arrival queues. Ideally, this would be in place before the peak summer season and for the launch of the EU entry/exit scheme this autumn at the latest.”

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