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While the Middle East crisis and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have dominated the headlines, largely due to their impact on oil prices and fuel supplies, there is another reason why many people in the UK have been growing increasingly anxious.

Beyond worries over potential jet fuel shortages disrupting holiday plans, there is an additional concern to contend with. Though entirely different in nature, the rollout of the European Union's new Entry and Exit System (EES) has been causing considerable disruption at airports.

The new system, being implemented across the EU, has altered requirements for British travellers entering the Schengen area. Under the scheme, holidaymakers may be required to register their biometric data, including fingerprints and a photograph, upon arrival.

Since the EES was introduced, one significant issue has emerged: lengthy delays, with travellers reporting queues of up to three hours during peak periods.

The i reports that Airports Council International Europe has warned that airports in countries such as Italy, Greece, Portugal, Germany, France and Spain have been "especially impacted", leaving passengers increasingly worried about missing their flights.

The BBC reported that some passengers were unable to make their flight from Milan Bergamo to Manchester due to delays at passport control, an incident blamed on the new EES system. In response to the delays, certain countries have taken matters into their own hands, with Greece announcing that British nationals would be exempt from biometric registration, reports the Mirror.

In a statement released on April 10, the Embassy of Greece in London said: "We would like to inform you that, within the framework of the implementation of the new Entry/Exit System (ESS) as of April 10th 2026, British passport holders are excluded from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points."

Speaking to the Independent about the matter, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, Eleni Skarveli, said the exemption had been put in place to ensure "a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece".

She added: "Practically, this means that the entry process in place before the implementation of the EES will remain unchanged."

While Greece may have diverged from the European Union's approach to the EES system, Britons travelling to the country may still harbour concerns that their holiday plans could be derailed by a jet fuel shortage.

Earlier this week, aviation expert John Gradek cautioned that "all of Europe is going to be affected by this shortage of aviation fuel", brought about by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of global oil passes.

Mr Gradek told Canadian network CTV: "I think it's going to get worse before it gets any better. You'll have short-haul flights being cancelled, long-haul flights will be rationed for fuel. So it'll be a little bit of chaos this summer in the EU.

"I think that if you are planning trips into Europe - and it doesn't really matter where - I think all of Europe is going to be affected by this shortage of aviation fuel. You're going to be in a situation where you need to make sure you have a plan B and a plan C."

Yet not everybody shares Mr Gradek's gloomy outlook. Holiday expert for On The Beach, Rob Brooks, argued that flights would only be cancelled if routes became too costly to operate, rather than due to fuel shortages, as many airlines purchase fuel in advance.

He told the Express: "Yes, some flights are being cancelled. But it's not because planes can't fly, or destinations are unsafe. It's because, in some cases, it's become too expensive to fly certain routes for airlines.

"When fuel prices spike like this, airlines have a choice: they can either run the flight and lose money, or cancel it. Occasionally, they choose to cancel it.

"Yes, fuel prices are rising right now. However, a lot of airlines are protected from that, especially for summer 2026 at least. Airlines like Ryanair and easyJet are well known for hedging a large portion of their fuel early, so they're not suddenly scrambling or cancelling large numbers of flights overnight."