EU Border System Faces Scrutiny from Airport Industry
The president of ACI Europe, Stefan Schulte, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the European Union's new digital border control system, the Entry-Exit System (EES). Schulte, who also leads the company operating Frankfurt Airport, stated that the system is not functioning effectively and is causing substantial problems for travelers and airport operations.
Concerns Over Delays and Passenger Impact
The EES, which was fully rolled out earlier this year, mandates that non-EU travelers register biometric data upon entering and exiting most European countries. While the system has been effective in some regions, it has been linked to significant delays at several airports, leading to passengers missing their flights. Schulte emphasized the severity of the issue, noting, "Passengers are queueing for hours at peak traffic times and I just do not know how we will be able to cope in the coming weeks with the expected increase in traffic."
Recent incidents highlight these concerns:
- Dozens of Ryanair passengers were left behind in Athens after their flight to London Luton departed without them, with Ryanair attributing the issue to border delays.
- Passengers traveling from Milan Bergamo and Milan Linate to Manchester also missed flights due to passport control issues in April.
Airlines like Wizz Air have already advised British holidaymakers to arrive at European airports three hours prior to their departure due to anticipated lengthy queues resulting from the new border checks.
Call for Flexibility and Rethink
Schulte is advocating for urgent changes to the EES. He called for "full flexibility for border control authorities to suspend the EES whenever needed to avoid further chaos – along with a rethink of those processes." He stressed the importance of maintaining the EU's reputation as a welcoming and efficient destination for travelers.
Previously, Greece's tourism minister, Olga Kefalogianni, had indicated that British passengers might be exempt from biometric checks when visiting Greece this summer to avoid bureaucratic burdens. However, this claim was later disputed by the Greek Foreign Ministry, leaving the situation unclear. Reports also suggested that Portugal and Italy were considering similar exemptions for British nationals, but the European Commission denied any such plans.
Source: Stop pretending EU's new border system is working, says airports chief