Milan Border Chaos Strands 100 EasyJet Travelers in Three-Hour Delays
Milan Border Chaos Strands 100 EasyJet Travelers in Three-Hour Delays
Hundreds of EasyJet passengers faced three-hour waits at Milan border under a new EU system, sparking chaos and travel disruption.
A disruption at Milan airport left around 100 EasyJet passengers stranded for up to three hours as border controls implemented a new EU digital system. The delays came as travellers queued for checks that were slower than usual, turning a routine journey into a lengthy hold-up in the terminal.
The disruption is tied to the rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System, a digital border-control initiative intended to speed processing. In the early phase of the change, lines grew, processing times ballooned, and passengers reported feeling stuck as staff worked through the new requirements. Several travellers described the scene as tense, with some passengers fainting or vomiting after long waits.
In another related setback tied to the chaos, a family booked on a Milan to Manchester EasyJet flight reportedly spent about £1,600 trying to get home after their aircraft left without them. Of the 156 passengers booked on that service, only 34 boarded, highlighting the knock-on effects these border-control delays can have on connections and travel plans.
Airlines have warned of further disruption as the EES system is phased in, and officials urged passengers to allow extra time, monitor flight statuses, and arrive early at the airport. The aim of the new digital border system is efficiency in the long run, but the initial rollout has introduced significant friction for travellers and crews alike.
As the system beds in, travellers are hopeful that processing times will improve in the coming days, turning what’s now a headache into a smoother experience for future trips.
