A new EU system will triple the number of people crossing the border, the head of the airport said

The EU’s new border system has nearly tripled the time it takes Britons to go through passport control, even after reforms.

It comes as Ryanair warns passengers traveling to Europe this winter to prepare for long waits.

Border police at Portugal’s Faro airport have told the BBC that check-in and check-out system technology is bugged, but queues there are falling fast.

The European Union Commission stated that disruptions at most EU airports were limited and announced that it would continue to support member states for the implementation of the system.

“This support will continue as long as possible,” he added.

The Digital Entry and Exit System (EES) requires non-EU nationals entering the Schengen area – from 29 European countries – to register their fingerprints and photograph. The information will be checked when you log out.

It is usually done using automated machines known as stand-alone “kiosks” and sometimes with border officers – for example, for children under 12. The new process and machines have been standardized since October.

Some European airports have seen hours-long queues at passport control. Passengers also said that their flights home were missing.

This week Ryanair said the “failed EES rollout” was causing unnecessary delays and long queues.

The airline said UK passengers should allow extra time for their journeys and be prepared to wait longer at passport control.

Everyone we spoke to in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna, which is popular with tourists from the UK and around the world every year, had an EES story.