Airports across the Schengen Area have reported significant congestion, with passengers facing waiting times of up to two hours at border controls during the Easter travel period www.theportugalnews.com. These delays are linked to the ongoing implementation of the European Entry/Exit System (EES), which has caused operational challenges for third-country nationals, including UK travelers, entering the bloc. Authorities in countries such as Portugal, France, and Spain have noted that the transition phase, which concludes on April 9, has placed additional pressure on border processing capacity.