Why visitors to Europe may need to be patient from April

Travelers heading to Europe from next month could face longer airport queues as the EU rolls out its new Entry/Exit System (EES) across Schengen airports.

The change comes into place on April 10 and replaces passport stamps with biometric registration for non-EU travellers, including Britons, Americans, Canadians and Australians.

While designed to modernise border controls, the early weeks of implementation could mean longer processing times at major hubs, particularly during peak Easter and spring break travel.

“While the scheme is designed to modernise border controls and tighten security, the early days of the rollout could bring delays, especially at busy hubs such as Paris (Charles de Gaulle, above), Rome, Barcelona and Amsterdam,” says Vykintas Maknickas, CEO at eSIM provider Saily.

From April 10, passport stamps will gradually disappear, first-time travellers under the new system will be required to register biometric data, airports may introduce new self-service kiosks and border checks could take longer during the transition period.

April marks the start of Europe’s high season for city breaks and long weekends. With more people travelling for Easter escapes and sunshine getaways, any added processing time at border control could quickly build up.

“Whenever a new airport system launches, there’s a natural adjustment period," Maknickas says.

"Spring is one of the busiest times for short haul travel into Europe.

"Travellers should allow extra time at arrival and be prepared for slightly slower border checks, particularly if it’s their first visit under the new system. When procedures change, small delays can create stress, especially in unfamiliar airports.”

Maknickas suggests allowing extra time for arrival, especially for tight connections, following airport signage carefully, as some terminals may introduce separate EES lanes and ensuring mobile connectivity on arrival to access boarding passes, transfer tickets and live travel updates.

How to reduce your risk of having data hacked

Are you taking risks when you sign on to wifi servers when travelling?

Recent research by cybersecurity experts at NordPass, together with Saily, suggest your data may be at serious risk.

The team says fake wifi hotspots that allow cybercriminals to steal login details - and, in some cases, access saved credit card information - are on the increase.

Karolis Arbaciauskas, head of product at NordPass, says that “workations” made company accounts more vulnerable than ever, while Saily’s CEO Vykintas Maknickas highlights how travellers often connect to “the first wifi they see” without considering security.

Many holidaymakers rely on airport wifi to check emails, log into airline apps with the same password, or, share streaming accounts.

One recurring pattern is the rise of “workations.” Employees working from beaches ski chalets often connected to company accounts via unsecured networks.

"Families on group trips also frequently admitted to reusing the same password across multiple booking apps to keep it simple,” says Arbaciauskas.

He warns fake wifi hotspots set up in airports, hotels, or even beach cafés can look identical to the real thing. Once you are connected, cybercriminals can monitor traffic and capture login details.

“We’ve seen how travellers lean on quick connections to stay in touch with home, work, or entertainment,” said Maknickas. 

“But not all networks are created equal. Choosing a secure, reliable connection can make the difference between a smooth trip and one filled with unexpected cyber troubles.”

Five tips:

# Audit your passwords: Replace any that are weak, reused, or shared over the summer.

# Think twice about wifi: Public hotspots are a hacker’s favourite playground - use mobile data or a VPN.

# Keep accounts personal: Sharing logins may seem harmless, but it weakens your digital defences.

# Secure work accounts: If you worked on the road, reset critical passwords now.

# Use tools that do the heavy lifting: A password manager helps generate and store strong, unique passwords.

# NordPass is a password manager for both business and consumer clients.

Image: Roberto Moreno, Scop.io

How to boost travel connectivity with minimum fuss

If you'd mentioned an eSIM a couple of years ago it is a good bet no one would have had any idea what you were talking about.

Now the market is flooded with a choice of eSIMS making different promises and with a range of package options. The old travel SIM business model is drowning fast.

But which one to choose?

Airalo, the world’s first and now largest eSIM provider, has just been awarded the esteemed 2025 Canstar Blue Most Satisfied Customers Award for travel phone plans.

I used Airalo on a recent trip to Bali, and was very satisfied.

"We are honoured to be recognised by Canstar Blue, reaffirming our dedication to providing unparalleled service to travellers," said Charlotte Dawes, head of partnerships, Australia & New Zealand at Airalo.

"We strive to connect and inspire a global culture of confident travellers, giving them greater assurance to experience the world. This accolade underscores our mission to empower travellers, ensuring they have the support and connectivity they need to explore with peace of mind."

Airalo is also scaling its enterprise platform with the launch of Airalo for Business.

This gives companies seamless access to local, regional, and global eSIMs for 200+ destinations, helping them assign eSIMs, control budgets, and can reduce roaming costs by up to 90%, Airalo says.

Employees can install an eSIM before departure and connect to a local network as soon as they land, staying online and productive from the get-go.

"As business travel, remote work, and global teams become the norm, managing connectivity has become increasingly complex," says Melvin Ng, Senior Partnerships Director (APAC) for Airalo Partners.

“Connectivity is no longer a nice-to-have - it is essential for doing business across borders.”

To learn more see www.airalo.com, or for more info on Airalo’s business solutions, visit www.partners.airalo.com.

Airalo, founded in 2019, has had over 20 million travellers to date and offers eSIM packages in 200+ countries.

See https://www.canstar.com.au/

Airalo makes staying in touch overseas easier than ever

Remember the old days when you used to brace for massive overseas roaming charges each time you travelled overseas?

Then came the trend of installing a new local SIM card into your mobile device every time you switched countries.

Now, eSIMs are the way to go - a few clicks on your phone and an eSIM is installed for your destination. Land, click and you are away, at a cost of just a couple of dollars a day.

Running out of data? Easy. A couple more clicks, a couple more bucks, and stay in touch.

I tested out the Airalo eSIM on a 10-day trip to Bali - including some remote locations - earlier this month. I was impressed both with the ease of signing up, and the ability to stay connected in places where I had no wifi access.

Airalo, founded in 2019, came highly recommended by a couple of travel writing colleagues and its PR operative helped set me up on the service. I'm an instant convert

Airalo, which promotes itself as the world’s leading eSIM provider, celebrated a major milestone recently: 20 million users have embraced its fully digital eSIM technology.

The outdated, traditional SIM card industry relies on a plastic-heavy, high-emission supply chain, producing billions of single-use SIMs each year - equivalent to 20,000 tonnes of plastic.

An eSIM emits 46% less CO2 throughout its product lifecycle than a single SIM card.

By eliminating the need for physical SIM cards, Airalo's eSIM technology is helping to reduce the telecom industry's environmental footprint at scale, while offering a more efficient and eco-friendly way to stay connected.

“Reaching 20 million users is more than a business milestone - it’s a clear signal that the world is ready for a more sustainable way to stay connected,” said Ahmet Bahadir Ozdemir, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Airalo.

“Every eSIM activation represents less plastic waste, fewer carbon emissions, and a step toward a greener planet." 

Unlike traditional SIM cards, which require swapping and often get lost or discarded, eSIMs are fully digital and easily manageable through your own device.

This flexibility allows travellers to switch between eSIM plans and countries effortlessly, without worrying about physical cards or compatibility issues.

Current offers include unlimited data for 10 days in 42 countries in Europe with Airalo Eurolink for $58.50.

To learn more visit www.airalo.com.