Overview
- Greece confirmed that British passport holders are excluded from fingerprint and facial scans at Greek border points under the EU Entry/Exit System, with no end date announced.
- Eleni Skarveli of the Greek National Tourism Organisation said the move is meant to cut waits and ease airport congestion to protect the country’s peak‑season tourism.
- The EES rollout has produced long queues and missed flights across parts of Europe, including a Milan Linate case where 122 easyJet passengers did not board after border delays.
- Airports and airlines are pressing for flexibilities as problems persist, with ACI Europe asking for powers to pause EES checks during unmanageable waits and UK–France ‘juxtaposed’ kiosks still not linked.
- The UK Foreign Office updated its Greece travel advice to reflect the exemption, as travellers are told EES replaces passport stamping and stores first‑entry biometrics for years, which may shape summer destination choices.