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Long Passport Queues Reported at European Airports

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Videos shared on social media over the past week show long queues at passport control at Geneva Airport. Some travelers say they waited up to three hours to clear border checks. Geneva Airport often gets crowded during winter. Ski season brings thousands of visitors, including many from the UK. This year, however, delays have grown worse. Airport officials say a new EU border system has increased congestion at passport control. New EU Entry Exit System Causes Delays Geneva Airport has blamed the EU Entry Exit System, known as EES, for the slow movement of passengers. Officials say congestion is most common on Saturdays, which are the busiest travel days during ski season. A spokesperson said the rollout of EES has created serious challenges for Swiss customs and airport staff. The new system requires biometric checks, which take more time per passenger. To ease pressure, the airport has increased staff numbers. Even so, long queues continue during peak hours. Tenerife Also Sees Long Waiting Times Similar delays have appeared at Tenerife Airport in the Canary Islands. The island remains a top winter sun destination for British travelers. Andrew Knight, who runs Sanasty Car Hire at Tenerife Airport, says many arriving passengers struggle with long waits at border kiosks. Most of his customers come from the UK and arrive during busy flight schedules. Delays Depend on Arrival Times Passengers who land during quieter hours often pass through passport control quickly. Some clear checks in about 20 minutes. Problems start when several flights arrive close together. During these periods, queues grow fast. Some travelers wait up to two hours before reaching the kiosks. Knight says the system works unevenly. At times, technical issues shut it down completely. When that happens, delays increase and frustration grows. Peak Travel Still a Concern Airport operators warn that long queues could continue during busy travel seasons. Until systems improve, passengers may face delays at major European airports. Authorities say flexibility remains an option. Border staff can pause the new system during peak times if queues become unmanageable.

Videos shared on social media over the past week show long queues at passport control at Geneva Airport. Some travelers say they waited up to three hours to clear border checks.

Contents
New EU Entry Exit System Causes DelaysTenerife Also Sees Long Waiting TimesDelays Depend on Arrival TimesPeak Travel Still a Concern

Geneva Airport often gets crowded during winter. Ski season brings thousands of visitors, including many from the UK. This year, however, delays have grown worse.

Airport officials say a new EU border system has increased congestion at passport control.

New EU Entry Exit System Causes Delays

Geneva Airport has blamed the EU Entry Exit System, known as EES, for the slow movement of passengers. Officials say congestion is most common on Saturdays, which are the busiest travel days during ski season.

A spokesperson said the rollout of EES has created serious challenges for Swiss customs and airport staff. The new system requires biometric checks, which take more time per passenger.

To ease pressure, the airport has increased staff numbers. Even so, long queues continue during peak hours.

Tenerife Also Sees Long Waiting Times

Similar delays have appeared at Tenerife Airport in the Canary Islands. The island remains a top winter sun destination for British travelers.

Andrew Knight, who runs Sanasty Car Hire at Tenerife Airport, says many arriving passengers struggle with long waits at border kiosks. Most of his customers come from the UK and arrive during busy flight schedules.

Delays Depend on Arrival Times

Passengers who land during quieter hours often pass through passport control quickly. Some clear checks in about 20 minutes.

Problems start when several flights arrive close together. During these periods, queues grow fast. Some travelers wait up to two hours before reaching the kiosks.

Knight says the system works unevenly. At times, technical issues shut it down completely. When that happens, delays increase and frustration grows.

Peak Travel Still a Concern

Airport operators warn that long queues could continue during busy travel seasons. Until systems improve, passengers may face delays at major European airports.

Authorities say flexibility remains an option. Border staff can pause the new system during peak times if queues become unmanageable.

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Next Article Australian police say they have identified a suspect in the disappearance of four year old Gus Lamont, who went missing from a remote sheep station in South Australia. Gus was last seen on 27 September playing outside his family home at Oak Park station, near the small town of Yunta. The property sits around 300 kilometres from Adelaide and is surrounded by harsh outback terrain. Child Vanishes From Remote Property According to police, Gus was under the care of his grandmother at the time. She left him alone for about thirty minutes before checking on him again. When she returned, the boy was gone. The family reported him missing soon after. Police launched one of the largest land and air searches ever carried out in the state. Search teams covered nearly 470 square kilometres around the station. That area is about twice the size of Edinburgh. Despite weeks of effort, officers found no trace of the child. Search Scaled Back as Investigation Shifted By late October, police reduced the active search. They then formed a twelve member taskforce to focus on the investigation. The team reviewed earlier statements from family members and others linked to the property. During this process, investigators noticed several gaps and conflicts in the timeline of Gus’s disappearance. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said these issues led police to focus on a person who lives at Oak Park station. That individual has now stopped cooperating with investigators. Parents Not Considered Suspects Police stressed that Gus’s parents are not suspects. Fielke said officers want to be clear on this point, as public attention around the case continues to grow. He added that the focus remains on finding out what happened to the child. In January, police searched the property again. They seized several items, including a vehicle, a motorcycle, and electronic devices. Investigators continue to examine these materials. Theories Narrowed by Police At the start of the case, police explored three main possibilities. They considered whether Gus walked away, was abducted, or was harmed by someone he knew. Given the isolation of the area, officers ruled out abduction. They also found no evidence to support the idea that the boy simply wandered off. This led police to believe that someone familiar with Gus may be involved in his disappearance and possible death. Police Vow to Continue Investigation Fielke said the investigation remains active and thorough. He added that nothing has been ruled out. Police say their goal is to find Gus and give his family answers. Officers remain determined to reach a conclusion, no matter how long it takes. Suspect Identified in Disappearance of Four Year Old in Australian Outback

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