Just when passport hassles lift in Europe, more pressing global tensions to impact summer travel
British passport holders looking to travel across Europe this summer can breathe a collective sigh of relief as a significant number of EU countries have reopened fast-track eGates for UK passport holders. A new agreement between the UK and the EU is set to drastically reduce airport queues and streamline border control processes, making travel to popular European destinations significantly smoother.
Which EU airports will have e-gates?
Forty-nine airports and transport hubs across 18 European countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, now offer eGate access to Brits, according to travel sources. This marks a major improvement from post-Brexit travel, where UK travellers often faced lengthy manual passport checks.
What about the EU’s Entry-Exit System?
While the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is still slated for a full rollout in October 2025, which will eventually replace passport stamps with biometric scans, the current eGate expansion is a welcome interim measure. It’s crucial, however, for travellers to remember that some airports may still require passport stamps if eGates are unavailable or malfunction, and the 90-day limit within any 180-day period in the Schengen Zone remains firmly in effect.
How will air travel change this summer?
However, a pressing geopolitical concern looms large for global travel and, by extension, the financial stability of freelancers and digital nomads. Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Iran’s parliament backing a measure to block the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas supplies, with approximately one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and a third of liquefied natural gas passing through it daily.
While the parliamentary decision in Iran was not binding at the time of writing and a final decision rests with top Iranian security officials, any disruption to the waterway would have significant global repercussions. Energy analysts warn that such a closure could cause oil prices to surge dramatically, potentially destabilising the global economy.
Also this week, Airlines were “weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict which has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the U.S. attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself,” according to Reuters.
Reuters said cancellations in recent days to “typically resilient aviation hubs” such as Dubai, the world’s busiest international airport, and Qatar’s Doha by international carriers show how aviation industry concerns about the region have escalated.
Prepare for higher travel costs if you haven’t booked already
For freelancers and digital nomads, this means a potential increase in travel costs due to higher fuel surcharges on flights, which could impact flight availability and overall affordability of trips beyond Europe. The volatility in global oil markets could also lead to broader economic instability, affecting client work, currency exchange rates, and the overall financial reliability for those relying on international income.
Therefore, while travel within Europe is becoming more accessible, those planning longer-haul trips or those whose income is sensitive to global economic shifts should closely monitor developments in the Middle East.
Related articles
Freelancers forced to look overseas for work as UK job market freezes – Freelance Informer
Travel myths busted: here’s how to book cheap flights – Freelance Informer
How freelancers can get paid to travel the world – Freelance Informer