Across Europe, a new era of travel dawns: one without passport stamps.

As of April 10, all travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries must be photographed and fingerprinted at EU airports and border points under the new entry and exit system (EES).

The EES is a digital system that replaces physical passport stamps at border points across the European Union, and people with passports from non-EU countries, including the UK, are required to use it.

Travel experts and the Home Office alike have already warned travellers of potential delays, with some predictions flagging waits of up to four hours.

Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at Abta, the travel agent and tour operator association, previously warned: ‘Because of the checks, you might need to prepare for delays with extra water and snacks.’

Now, airlines have chimed in, too.

Ahead of the system’s introduction, on April 1, easyJet issued a message for passengers: prepare to wait in line.

Guidance on the budget airline’s website reads: ‘Airports across Europe may experience longer queues at passport control whilst the new European Entry /Exit System (EES) border checks are being completed.

‘This will mean you may need to have your biometrics taken, including your face and fingerprints scanned.’

EasyJet isn’t the only budget carrier to warn passengers to prepare. Jet2 had advised travellers, particularly those holidaying in popular destinations like Spain and Greece, to read up on the new system.

The airline’s website suggests: ‘There may be longer wait times than usual when you arrive in destination and before your flight back to the UK.

‘We’re really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but unfortunately this is outside of our control.’

How does the EES system work in the EU?

Most travellers from outside the EU, known as third-country nationals, will be required to register their passport details and biometric data when crossing into an EU country for the first time.

Biometric data includes fingerprints and facial pictures. Borders are likely to be kitted with self-service kiosks where passengers can input this information.

This data, as well as the entry and exit details, will be stored for subsequent visits.

Future visits will only require a verification of the biometric data, which can speed up the process.

Border officials will then also ask extra questions about accommodation, whether travellers have enough money for the trip, insurance and a return ticket.

Children are not exempt from the checks, although children under 12 do not need to give fingerprints; however, they will also need to have their faces scanned.

Will EES checks happen in the UK?

Usually, the checks will be carried out at the destination airport or port on arrival. The only exceptions are the Port of Dover, St Pancras International, and Folkestone.

As such, travellers heading to the EU will go through the checks there, as these are dual British and French border locations.

The new system applies to the 25 EU countries, plus Schengen members Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Manual passport stamping will still be used in non-Schengen countries such as Ireland and Cyprus.

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From quaint market towns to bustling cities, there are countless UK destinations perfect for a day trip or short break.

And thanks to the latest offer from coach operator, FlixBus, you’ll soon be able to explore the UK for the same price as a cup of coffee.

To celebrate it’s fifth birthday, the brand has slashed ticket prices to just £5 — with some even as low as £4.49.

Given that jet fuel prices have surged by 58.4% in the last two weeks — reaching their highest level in four years — there’s no better time to consider a staycation.

Until April 30, promotional £5 tickets are available for travel between April 13 and June 30 2026, with a range of more than 100 destinations across England, Scotland and Wales to choose from.

And as of April 1, FlixBus will launch in five new cities: Doncaster, Blackpool, Halifax, Huddersfield and Milton Keynes.

For Midlanders, if you’re in Leicester or Nottingham you’ll also be able to catch a Flixbus to Plymouth and Bristol for the first time.

There will be improved airport connectivity too, as a daily service from Heathrow Airport into London and Brighton will be added.

Gatwick Airport will also get a route to both Leeds and Sheffield, and there will be new connections from Manchester Airport to Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Huddersfield and Bradford.

There will also be new routes between Bristol Airport and Plymouth, Taunton, Cheltenham and Exeter.

Need some inspiration? Head to the UK’s best place to live for 2026

Flixbus are improving connectivity in Norwich, with new services to Heathrow, Birmingham and Plymouth.

The routes come just as the capital of Norfolk has been named as the best place to live in the UK, topping The Sunday Times list for 2026.

Metro’s expert food writer, Courtney Pochin, hails from the area, and spent 24 years living in and around Norwich.

She attests to the fact that the city is a ‘pretty spectacular’ place, urging visitors to head to it’s ‘stunning cathedral’, soak up the culture at one of it’s many, many festivals, and experience it’s ‘extraordinary food scene’.

For more tips, read Courtney’s local’s guide to Norwich here

And as of May, you can get your hands on £5 tickets for Flixbus routes to Colchester, Chelmsford and Ipswich.

Spring will also see more airport connections: from Birmingham Airport to London and Oxford, and Norwich to Heathrow.

Sarah Bartlett, PR lead for FlixBus UK said: ‘Five years ago, we set out with a bold ambition to revolutionise coach travel, and with a network of over 100 destinations, it’s clear passengers have fallen in love with FlixBus.

‘We’re offering tickets for less than a fiver to bring even more joy to travellers using our affordable, comfortable and reliable services.’

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Japan is introducing a new US-style ESTA system, applying to visitors from more than 70 countries, including the UK.

Cherry blossom, ancient-temples and 24-hour ramen are just some of the many reasons tourists flock to the Land of the Rising Sun — with 32% of Brits crowning it their ultimate bucket-list destination.

But the new JESTA, set to make its debut in 2028, is set to shake up the visiting process.

Earlier this month, the Japanese government approved a bill to introduce the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (JESTA), which will apply to visitors from 74 countries.

According to reports in Japanese newspaper The Mainichi, the new system is aiming to tighten up immigration rules, and will require tourists to provide the following details — all before travelling:

• their passport information
• the reason they’re visiting
• details of their accommodation

Currently, the UK Foreign Office guidance notes that British tourists do not need to apply for a visa when visiting Japan for either business or pleasure.

Instead, UK visitors are stamped with a visa in their passports on arrival, which covers up to 90 days of travel.

The JESTA will be different as it needs to be sorted before flying. While there’s currently no information available around pricing, the US’ ESTA currently costs travellers around £30.

Once potential visitors are approved, they won’t need to have their passports stamped upon entry, which the Japanese government is hoping will simplify and speed up arrivals at the airport.

The new requirements will also mean that airlines will need to pass passenger information to immigration services, and if the JESTA hasn’t been accepted, they have the right to refuse boarding.

Visitors from the following countries will need to apply for a JESTA:

• Andorra
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lesotho
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macao
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Republic of Korea
• Romania
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• Türkiye
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uruguay

The new visa isn’t the only change Japan is asking of its tourists.

Last year, Kyoto, a historic city filled with historical sites from Nijo Castle to the Kyoto Imperial Palace, announced that it would be hiking its tourist tax.

A fee for the district was first introduced in 2018, but as of this month, the rates will be significantly increased. The new rules could lift the city’s annual revenues taken purely from accommodation tax from ¥5.2 billion (£24,611,600) to ¥12.6 billion (£59,635,800) annually.

The rates depend on the type of accommodation you’re staying in – and, naturally, the bougiest options are set to bear the most considerable brunt.

Rooms priced between ¥50,000 (£236.65) and ¥99,999 (£473.30) per night will have a ¥4,000 (£18.93) fee slapped on top, and lower-cost options ranging between ¥20,000 (£94.66) and ¥49,999 (£236.65) will pay more like ¥1,000 (£4.73), the same as the current rate.

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While tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, it remains business as usual in Turkey’s main tourist hubs.

With historic cities and spectacular coastlines, the West Asian country remains one of the most popular holiday destinations for European travellers.

In 2025, it welcomed 63.4 million visitors, with Russia, Germany and the UK the top markets for inbound travel.

But as geopolitical tensions flare across the region, and given Turkey’s eastern land border with Iran, some may be reconsidering trips to the country during the busy Easter and summer seasons.

If you’re still weighing up plans, here’s everything you should know.

Is it safe to travel to Turkey? Latest FCDO advice

The Foreign Office continues to advise against ‘all travel to parts of Turkey’. This specifically refers to travel within 10km of the border between Turkey and Syria, in light of the terrorism risk.

As is stands, there is no travel warning for popular holiday destinations such as Istanbul, Cappadocia and Antalya.

For other parts of the country, the Foreign Office last updated its travel guidance on March 1, when it changed its advice on entering across the land border from Iran.

This means British nationals are required to request support from the British Embassy in Ankara before travelling to the border.

The guidance continued: ‘If you intend to leave Iran overland, you do so at your own risk.

‘In Iran, holding a British passport or having perceived connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you.’

Have flights to Turkey been cancelled?

Flights from European cities to major Turkish airports, including Istanbul’s two main commercial airports and Antalya Airport, continue to operate on schedule.

Flag carrier Turkish Airlines has only cancelled services to select locations across the Middle East and the Gulf.

British Airways, AJet, and Pegasus all run daily routes from London to Istanbul.

British Airways said it is closely monitoring the situation, and that it’s cancelled a ‘number’ of flights to the Middle East.

‘Safety is always our top priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so,’ the guidance, posted on the BA website, reads.

BA gave passengers flying between Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv before March 15 the option to change their flight, free of charge, until March 29.

How close is Turkey to Iran?

Turkey and Iran are connected by land, and Tehran and Istanbul are between 2,000 and 2,050 kilometres away from one another by air.

The border between the two countries stretches for around 300 miles.

According to Alaraybiya English, day-trip crossings at the border between Turkey and Iran have been halted at all three customs gates.

However, Turkey’s trade minister, Omer Bolat, said Iran is allowing its own citizens to enter Iran via Turkey, and Turkey is allowing its own citizens to come back to Turkey from Iran.

Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city and its major tourism gateway, lies in the northwest of the country, thousands of kilometres from areas currently experiencing tensions.

The Turkish Riviera – which includes well-known holiday resorts such as Antalya, Bodrum and Marmaris – is located along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts in the southwest.

What if I don’t want to travel to Turkey?

If you already have a holiday booked to Turkey and you choose not to travel, you won’t be eligible for a refund, because the Foreign Office has not explicitly advised against travelling there.

However, you should keep an eye on the Foreign Office guidance to monitor the situation.

If they do advise against travel, contact your tour operator, travel insurance provider or airline, who will be able to provide further assistance.

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When I first moved to London in 2018, I was always trying to nab a seat on the Tube.

On a rammed Northern Line train during a morning commute, I was desperate for a seat to avoid being smushed into a stranger’s armpit. 

And on the way home after work, I’d gaze longingly at the seats, waiting for the moment one would free up so I could get off my feet (I had a terrible habit of wearing uncomfortable shoes).

But flash forward to today, and you’ll hardly ever catch me sitting down on the Tube. 

Instead, I opt to stand – a choice I appreciate I’m privileged to have as many fellow Londoners need to sit due to mobility issues.

My aversion to sitting on the Tube began in 2023, amid the bedbug outbreak in France. 

Like many others, I became paranoid about inadvertently bringing the critters home, especially after seeing videos of them crawling around on Tube seats. 

And while we didn’t end up having an infestation on the Underground here, I found myself unable to return to sitting on the vast majority of the lines, as the more I stood, the more I noticed just how gross many of the seats actually looked.

I’d argue the worst culprits can be found on Northern, Central, Victoria, and Picadilly lines, which have previously been named as some of the ‘dirtiest’ and ‘most polluted’ lines in the city.

To give you a better idea of what we’re dealing with, one study by the London Metropolitan University found 22 different types of living bacteria on the Victoria line, four of which were on the WHO priority list as potentially deadly, antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

And if this doesn’t make you think twice about parking your bum, this just might…

It’s 2028 and you’re getting a taxi home from a night out. So far, so normal, the only difference is that this one is flying.

Sounds futuristic but it’s far from unrealistic according to Vertical Aerospace, which is aiming to have its taxis soaring across London’s skyline within two years.

The Bristol-based firm successfully tested its electric flying taxi above the Cotswolds last year.

Uber has slightly tempered its ambitions to 2030, although its partnership with Joby Aviation is set to bring flying taxis to Dubai already later this year.

It joins cities in China and the United Arab Emirates which harbour similar ambitions.

Uber’s chief product officer Sachin Kansal revealed he would be ‘very disappointed’ if the 2030 milestone wasn’t hit.

‘London is going to be a very high priority market,’ he said.

‘We know our users (there) would love a feature like this, which will help them escape a lot of the traffic and be able to get from their home to the airport within a few minutes rather than hours.’

How fast would a flying taxi journey be?

To put that in perspective, a 10-mile journey across central London could take as little as 10 minutes in a flying taxi – compared to in excess of 90 minutes during peak times.

‘To me, the number one advantage of being able to take that ride is time,’ Sachin explained.

‘Of course the aircraft itself is going to be an amazing experience, but being able to save an hour is going to be amazing.’

Joby’s electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) will launch like a helicopter before tilting forward to cruise like a plane to travel at speeds of up to 200mph.

It will carry a pilot and four passengers, cover up to 100 miles on full battery, which takes up to 10 minutes to charge from empty.

And it won’t be priced beyond the means of ordinary Londoners.

How much would flying Uber trip cost?

Fares would be comparable to Uber Exec, the premium tier of the Uber app. In central London, a 10-mile Uber Exec journey typically costs between £50 and £70 depending on traffic and demand.

Like with Uber, customers will be able to book shared trips or an entire aircraft. They will travel via ‘vertiports’ — landing pads on rooftops, car parks, or repurposed helipads.

Under Uber’s model, passengers can take ‘stitched’ journeys where a car takes them to the ‘vertiports’ and another picks them up when they land for the final leg of their journey.

On top of this, they are significantly quieter than conventional aircraft. Joby claims their eVTOLs are around 55 decibels when flying overhead, roughly equivalent to a loud conversation in a restaurant.

So far, no infrastructure exists to accommodate eVTOLs – although not many ‘vertiports’ would be needed to serve London, according to Sachin.

‘My expectation would be that we would pick a few spots that give us enough coverage in the city as well as on the outskirts … which could be starting points,’ he said.

‘You just need a clearing to get enough angle to come in, you need enough space, and you need charging infrastructure. And all of that is very creative.’

What happens next with flying taxis in UK?

Joby is currently testing the taxis out in Dubai – which promises to be the guinea pig before the models expand to the US and then London.

Despite the ambitions, significant hurdles remain.

Before any commercial service can begin, aircraft must receive certification from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The regulator must approve their safety, and operators must secure licences covering pilot training, routes, and maintenance.

Local authorities could also block the building of ‘vertiports’, especially if locals raise concerns about issues like noise.

Jonathan Nicholson, from the CAA, said we were ‘very close’ to seeing flying taxis ‘as long as it is safe we will seek to enable it’.

But there are also broader concerns over public confidence.

Autonomous cars have yet to be rolled out on a large scale in the UK. Until this is normalised, it remains to be seen how popular self-flying taxis will be.

Until these hurdles are overcome, the dream of beating London traffic by air remains just that.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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