Latest news with #MarkTanzer
Daily Mail
24-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Revealed: This weekend is predicted to be 'one of the busiest of the year' for travel
As the summer holidays begin, many families are preparing to head away on holiday. Travel association ABTA predicts this weekend, July 25 to 28, is set to be 'one of the busiest' this year. Two million Brits are expected to jet off abroad and airports are forecast to be packed. Spanish destinations are proving to be the most popular, with many families heading to Costa Brava, Costa del Sol, Balearic and the Canary Islands. Other dreamy locations including Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Italy, Malta, Morocco and Cape Verde, are expecting hordes of travellers, too. Hundreds of thousands of passengers are predicted to be departing from Heathrow and Gatwick this weekend. Stansted could see 210,000, while and Luton is expecting 120,000. Manchester Airport is expecting a whopping 220,000 travellers jetting off on their holidays, and 100,000 should depart from Birmingham. Aside from beach resorts, tourists are also flocking to city destinations including Amsterdam, Dubai, Dublin, Budapest, Barcelona and Lisbon. ABTA recommends checking the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice on your holiday location before travelling, as well as ensuring your passport is still valid. Travel insurance is also advised as well as applying for a free Global Health Insurance Card. A GHIC gives travellers access to healthcare abroad in most European countries. Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive, said: 'This weekend will be one of the busiest for travel with many more families in the UK heading off overseas for a well-deserved summer break, either spending quality time together on a relaxing beach holiday or having fun on a cultural city break. 'To help ensure a stress-free travel experience, leave plenty of time to get to your departure port and, if using public transport, check in advance for any potential engineering works and use ABTA's holiday checklist which gives helpful and essential tips to help you prepare for your holiday.' The travel association advises tourists to check the local rules of the destination they are travelling to. While holidaymakers are also recommended to be clued up on airport security rules. Purchasing the local currency as well as taking a card is also advised, and being prepared for charges such as taxis when you arrive.
Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Times
When can UK travellers use EU passport e-gates? What we know so far
British passport holders will be able to use e-gates at more European airports soon as part of a new UK-EU deal, the Government has announced, in a move that it says should end 'the dreaded queues at border control'. The EU has promised to ease checks on British travellers at borders and to drop objections to allowing British tourists using e-gates. The deal says 'there will be no legal barriers to e-gate use for British nationals travelling to and from European Union' after tougher biometric checks come in later this year. Since Brexit, British travellers arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology. This has led to many passengers facing long queues, particularly during peak periods. Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said the announcement was 'a significant breakthrough for British travellers'. Meanwhile, Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA — the Travel Association said that the UK-EU agreement 'will make it easier for travellers, cutting down on queues and pre-holiday admin'. Got a trip coming up? Here's what you need to know about the changes. After the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, British travellers started being considered as 'visa-exempt third-country nationals' when it came to arriving and departing EU airports. This meant that British travellers could no longer use the passport e-gates, and instead had to join (an often longer) queue for a stamp in their passport and a manual check by EU border officials. British passports can currently be used at e-gates in the EU at a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal. Following the new UK-EU agreement announced on Monday, May 19, British citizens will soon be allowed to use e-gates at many European airports, which is expected to reduce waiting times. It is also unclear whether member states will be required to give British travellers access; the deal only promises 'use of e-gates where appropriate'. The EU is planning to launch its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025, which will replace the need for people arriving in the EU from non-member countries such as the UK to have their passports stamped. Instead, they will need to have their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken to register them on a database, with the data stored for three years. If passengers refuse to supply it, they will be denied entry. It is therefore likely that more EU airports will allow British travellers access to the e-gates after the launch of the EES, as this will remove the need for passports to be stamped and remove any legal barriers to access. Note that a select number of EU airports already allow this with additional checks in place. Travellers should also note that this new agreement will not change the current '90-day-rule'. Eligible non-EU citizens are allowed to spend 90 days in any 180-day period in the EU without a visa; the EES will digitise travel records to ensure that this limit is not breached, while increasing border security. • Read more about EES here Yes — if you're a pet owner. The Government also announced that UK cats and dogs will be able to travel 'more easily' by 'eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip'. This is through the introduction of so-called pet passports. • When does the Etias scheme start for UK travellers? Everything you need to know• 100ml liquids rule: which UK airports have changed restrictions?
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Britons will have fingerprints taken at EU border despite Starmer's deal
Britons travelling to the European Union will still have to have their fingerprints and a mugshot taken at the border after the reset deal brokered by Sir Keir Starmer. While the agreement means UK citizens will now be able to use passport e-gates at EU airports, a push by Brussels to more closely monitor all arrivals into the bloc remains unaffected. Starting later this year, 'third-country nationals' entering the 29-nation Schengen zone will need to provide biometric data under the so-called Entry/Exit System (EES). Fingerprints and a photograph will be taken on touchdown at European airports, or before departing London on a Eurostar train or taking a ferry from Dover. Some reports have suggested that one or the other may be acceptable. The long-delayed programme is expected to be rolled out from October, leading to concerns about disruption during half-term as Britons unaware of the changes fly off on European breaks. Credit: Reuters Mark Tanzer, the chief executive of Abta, the trade body for travel agents, said: 'The agreements around e-gates and pet passports will make it easier for travellers, cutting down on queues and pre-holiday admin. 'There are of course more border changes coming down the line, including the EU Entry/Exit System planned for October. It is vital we continue to see good cooperation between the UK and EU on the introduction of this scheme, to make it as streamlined as possible for UK travellers.' The new Entry/Exit System comprises of e-gates and the computerised system, which will automatically check UK passports (and many others) at the external borders of countries in the Schengen Area (which comprises 25 EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). It will replace the system of manually stamping passports, which is currently the only way that border officials can monitor whether or not visitors, such as those from the UK, remain within their 90-day limit for visa-free travel. The EES will digitise travel records, identifying visitors who overstay and, the EU claims, boosting border security. Data will be kept on file for three years, with anyone refusing to supply it denied entry. The EES is expected to be rolled out from October 2025. The e-gates will register the person's name, travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit. You will have to register your photos and fingerprints, which will be stored in the form of biometric data. Queues at airports in the EU should be shorter as Britons holding passports compatible with e-gates will now be permitted to use barriers that have been closed to them since Brexit. There will be no more waiting in line at manned booths while border officials scrutinise the paperwork of the ranks of arrivals from around the world. However, that will only be possible once the requirements of the EES scheme have been met. It has been argued that, beyond the initial rigmarole of registering, the scheme will speed up entry and exit from the bloc. The 'reset' agreement will not directly affect UK airports, but should ease pressure at European airports and border points with e-gates, particularly in locations popular with holidaying Britons. The requirement for the additional infrastructure for the EES still stands, meaning companies that have invested in new booths and technology will not have done so in vain. Eurostar has spent millions on biometric kiosks at St Pancras station, where French border officials check passports before people board trains, while Dover has similarly reordered its waiting areas so that people can supply fingerprints and photos via tablets from their cars. Widespread changes regarding e-gates are unlikely to come into effect in time for the 2025 summer holidays. Some European countries are already rolling out more e-gates at their airports in a bid to reduce passenger processing time. Others already allow UK passport holders to use e-gates. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said the 'reset' deal was unlikely to make any difference to passenger numbers, with Britons already booking holidays in Spain, Greece and Italy in high numbers this summer. Still, he said the change should have a positive impact for Britons negotiating European airports and 'will certainly reduce friction at the borders'. Arrivals from the EU are already permitted to use e-gates at Heathrow. The airport allowed this after judging that reducing pressure on Border Force officials ultimately outweighed any consideration of tit-for-tat restrictions. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Britons are to gain access to European airport e-gates (but there's a catch)
British holidaymakers should experience shorter queues at European airports after the Government negotiated an agreement for UK passport holders to use e-gates across the European Union. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the European Union Relations minister, told the BBC that the agreement will grant British travellers 'more time to spend on holiday or work trips… doing what you want, not being stuck in queues'. Here is everything you need to know about how the new e-gate rules will impact your holidays, and when they will likely come into effect. Since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, British passport holders have been considered as 'visa-exempt third-country nationals' when arriving or departing EU countries. This means UK citizens have the same rights as passport holders from Australia and Venezuela. At most EU airports British passport holders have to join the (slower) 'other nations' queue on arrival. UK travellers also currently face additional checks when departing EU countries. Many British holidaymakers will experience considerably longer processing times at airports. The reason for this is that since Brexit, EU border officials have been required to manually check that UK arrivals have sufficient means of subsistence, that their visit will not exceed the stay limit of 90 days over a 180-day period, and that the passenger has 'the means to return to the country of origin'. The guard must also now stamp the British passport. It is worth noting that, since Brexit, travellers with EU passports arriving into the UK have continued to have access to e-gates across UK airports. The wording is as follows: 'The United Kingdom and the European Commission will continue their exchanges on smooth border management for the benefit of their citizens, including the potential use of e-gates where appropriate. 'They note that European Union citizens can use e-gates in the United Kingdom and that there will be no legal barriers to e-gate use for British Nationals traveling to and from European Union Member States after the introduction of the European Union Entry/Exit System.' The agreement means that UK passport holders will be able to use e-gates previously reserved for arrivals from EU or European Economic Area countries (including Iceland, Norway and Switzerland). Some airports may opt to introduce new, special 'third-country nationals' e-gates to speed up the facial recognition part of the process. Others may allow UK passport holders to use existing EU e-gates. Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association said: 'The agreements around e-gates and pet passports will make it easier for travellers, cutting down on queues and pre-holiday admin. There are of course more border changes coming down the line – including the EU Entry/Exit System planned for October 2025. It is vital we continue to see good cooperation between the UK and EU on the introduction of this scheme, to make it as streamlined as possible for UK travellers.' According to the agreement the barriers preventing UK passenger access to e-gates will end after the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) (see below). After multiple delays it is expected that the EES will be rolled out from October 2025. Widespread changes regarding e-gates are unlikely to come into effect in time for the 2025 summer holidays. Some European countries are already rolling out more e-gates at their airports in a bid to reduce passenger processing time. Others already allow UK passport holders to use e-gates. Rome Fiumicino has special 'third-country national' e-gates in operation, and at Amsterdam Schiphol and Lisbon UK passengers are allowed to use the same e-gates as EU citizens, before going on for manual border official checks. While access to European e-gates could reduce queues, there are wider EU border changes on the horizon which will see UK passport holders giving up more personal data when entering the EU. Under the Entry/Exit System (EES), e-gates will capture fingerprints and facial scans of non-EU citizens entering the Schengen bloc, replacing the need for manual passport checks and stamps. This means that, on first entry into an EU country, third-country nationals including UK passport holders will need to provide facial biometrics and fingerprints. Some fear this could lead to significant hold-ups at European airports after EES is rolled out. However, once the process is up and running, UK passport holders should be able to proceed through an e-gate without any further checks. Separately, UK passport holders will soon have to get an Etias 'euro visa' (expected to come into effect six months after the EES). The visa waiver will come with a one-off €7 fee and will be valid for three years, or until the expiry of your passport. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Easter weekend travel warning issued ahead of ‘busiest' day of travel
As an estimated 2.2million Brits head abroad over the bank holiday weekend, holidaymakers are urged to allow plenty of time with airports and ports set to be 'extremely busy'. ABTA, the trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry has warned that Good Friday will be the busiest day for travel, with people off work for the long weekend and some schools only just breaking up. Roads and public transport are likely to be busier as people head to airports and ferry terminals across the country. READ MORE: Mum, 41, found dead in bed after telling husband 'I love you' READ MORE: Couple sat in airport 35 minutes before Jet2 flight left devastated after checking their phone Planned engineering words could lead to further disruption. Earlier this week Northern warned passengers of rail replacement services in place across Greater Manchester. Hundreds of thousands of passengers are set to depart from the UK's biggest airport with 187,000 flying from Gatwick and 160,000 leaving from Manchester. Birmingham Airport is expecting its busiest Easter period ever and hundreds of thousands of passengers will depart from Heathrow. ABTA warns that ferry terminals and the Channel Tunnel will be 'extremely busy' as thousands travel to Europe via the Eurostar. Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said: 'Easter is always one of the busiest times of year for the travel industry with millions taking advantage of the long weekend to take an overseas beach or city break. "Over the past few months, ABTA members will have been working hard to help travellers secure the ideal Easter break. 'As always the roads and public transport will be very busy, so always check for any planned engineering works and leave plenty of time to get to your departure port.' British holidaymakers are favouring traditional holiday hotspots for the Easter break, with ABTA members reporting strong bookings for mainland Spain, the Balearic and Canary Islands, Greece and Turkey. Thailand is proving popular for long-haul travel and Dubai is among the top destinations, both for holidays and connecting to countries futher afield in Aisa and Australia. Many are taking advantage of the four-day weekend to spend time on a cultural and fun city break with Dublin, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Budapest, Rome and Paris leading the way. For more of today's top stories, click here.
