EU biometric checks trigger Heathrow chaos: airlines warn of three-hour delays

Passengers flying into Heathrow Airport face severe delays as new EU biometric border checks trigger widespread disruption, with airlines advising arrivals to allow three hours before flights.

Jet2 and other budget carriers have issued urgent warnings to travellers, urging them to arrive at EU airports—including Heathrow—three hours before departure due to bottlenecks caused by the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES). The system, which requires fingerprint and facial image scans for non-EU visitors, has created "biometric delay misery," according to multiple reports . At Porto Airport, Portuguese border police (PSP) reported waits of up to an hour for over 53,000 passengers, with five refusals recorded in a single day .

The chaos extends beyond the UK. Portugal has notified the European Commission of plans to temporarily suspend biometric data collection, citing operational strain . Meanwhile, US travellers also report confusion and delays under the new system, with some airports struggling to process the additional checks efficiently .

Heathrow’s woes are compounded by transport disruptions. A burst pipe has halted all train services to the airport, forcing passengers to seek alternative routes . The combined impact of border delays and infrastructure failures risks exacerbating summer travel chaos, with airlines warning that current wait times may persist or worsen without systemic fixes.

The EES, introduced in late 2025 to tighten EU border security, has faced criticism for its rollout. While officials defend the system’s long-term benefits, industry groups argue that airports lack the infrastructure to handle the surge in biometric processing. With peak holiday season approaching, travellers are advised to monitor updates from carriers and border agencies to avoid missed flights.