Europe's worst airport for queues named - with waiting times up to five hours READ MORE: Ryanair demands urgent intervention as passengers face long delays and missed flights at major airport By ESTHER MARSHALL Published: 10:43 BST, 20 June 2025 | Updated: 10:46 BST, 20 June 2025 Holidays are supposed to be about switching off and relaxing, but unfortunately the airport might have other ideas. A new study has revealed the European airports where British tourists are most likely to face queues at passport control. According to The Telegraph, Brussels Airport is the hub where British tourists are most likely to hit chaos. Earlier this year, travellers reported having to wait in five-hour queues at passport control, with one passenger telling The Brussels Times: 'After a long flight, it's inhumane to expect us to stand for that long.' In a Tripadvisor review, one passenger, 'Beverly M', wrote: 'Awful experience - passport control is a shambles! So poorly organised - you shouldn't have to wait three hours to get through passport control and then try to look for your luggage. 'Sorry Belgium, but I won't be back in your country. The only good thing is that there are airport staff giving out bottles of water.' Another traveller, 'UOI', said: 'Huge bottleneck in Brussels Airport. The line for customs/immigration has taken one hour and 47 minutes and still counting!' But things could be looking up in Brussels ahead of the summer as Belgium's Interior Minister recently announced the country is introducing a 'summer plan' to reduce queues at border control. A new study has revealed the European airports where British tourists are most likely to face queues at passport control According to The Telegraph, Brussels Airport is the worst hub for chaos at passport control Bernard Quintin said that additional staff would be brought in to work on passport control, in good news for any Brits heading to Brussels this summer. The Telegraph reports that Paris is Europe's next worst offender for lengthy queues at passport control. Charles de Gaulle Airport has faced issues with a shortage of border guards which has led to chaotic queues at passport control. Problems are reportedly worse around major events such as last year's Paris Olympics and the 2023 Rugby World Cup. After Brussels and Paris, The Telegraph reports that Spain and Portugal's airports are often particularly bad for passport queues. As both European destinations are popular spots with British tourists, queues at the border have become much more chaotic since Brexit. In May, British travellers became trapped at an overcrowded passport control in Tenerife. The nightmare unfolded after several UK flights arrived in quick succession and caused severe delays. In a Tripadvisor review for Brussels Airport, one passenger said: 'Awful experience - passport control is a shambles!' Passengers said people were 'visibly distressed' while one described the airport's conditions as 'inhumane'. Spanish authorities promised to increase the number of border guards at the airport after the incident so conditions may have improved ahead of the summer. And British tourists could fall foul of travel chaos before they've even left the UK. A new study has found that Southampton is the UK's worst airport for cancelling flights, with Belfast, London City, Aberdeen and Glasgow close behind. Bournemouth has the lowest rate of cancellations in good news for any Brits flying from the southern airport this summer. ParisTripadvisor Share or comment on this article: Europe's worst airport for queues named - with waiting times up to five hours Add comment