Massive Border Queues Leave One Hundred Easyjet Passengers Stranded Following New European Biometric Implementation

New biometric border controls in Milan leave 100 Easyjet passengers behind. Read about the impact of the EES rollout on UK travelers and flight schedules.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 13, 2026, 5:59 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from BBC

Travel Disruption at Milan Linate Airport

A routine Sunday flight from Milan to Manchester turned into a logistical crisis for dozens of travelers when an Easyjet aircraft departed without a significant portion of its manifest. Approximately 100 passengers remained trapped in extensive border control queues at Milan Linate airport, unable to reach their departure gate in time. Reports from the scene indicated that travelers faced wait times exceeding three hours, creating a high-stress environment where some individuals reportedly fainted or became ill in the heat. Despite arriving several hours before their scheduled departure, many passengers reached the front of the queue only to be informed that their flight had already left.

Implementation of New Biometric Border Controls

The primary catalyst for the backlog was the recent activation of the European Entry/Exit System (EES), which became fully operational on April 10. This new digital infrastructure replaces manual passport stamping with the registration of biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images, for travelers entering the Schengen area. While the UK government had previously issued warnings that these procedures might extend processing times, the scale of the delay at Linate appeared to catch both the airline and passengers off guard. The system aims to modernize border security but has introduced immediate friction into the travel experience during its initial rollout phase.

Stranded Passengers Face Mounting Financial Burdens

For those left behind, the cancellation of their travel plans has resulted in substantial out-of-pocket expenses and grueling wait times. Kiera, a 17-year-old student from Oldham, detailed a 20-hour wait in the airport terminal after being forced to book a replacement flight to London Gatwick rather than her original destination of Manchester. The cost for the new tickets reached approximately £520, a significant sum for her family to absorb. Furthermore, the offered compensation from the airline was reportedly as low as £12.25, an amount Kiera noted was insufficient to even cover basic sustenance while waiting for the next available flight.