Europe’s new biometric border screening system, the Entry-Exit System or EES, is still causing long lines and disruption at airports across the continent even before the summer travel peak. Stefan Schulte, president of ACI Europe, warned that airports could face severe congestion in the coming weeks if no changes are made.
Speaking at an industry event in Prague, Schulte said, “Passengers stand in queues for hours at busy times, and I simply do not know how we will manage in the coming weeks with the expected rise in traffic.” He urged politicians to “stop pretending that EES works perfectly. It does not,” and called for border authorities to be able to suspend the system when needed and to review the procedures.
The system, which was fully launched earlier this year, requires travelers arriving from outside the European Union to provide biometric data when entering and leaving most European countries. Schulte said the goal should be to avoid further chaos and protect Europe’s reputation as a welcoming, efficient destination.
The system has already caused significant delays and missed flights at several major airports, although some places have reported smoother implementation. Earlier this month, Athens airport saw huge queues that led about 20 passengers to miss a flight to London Luton, even though EES was not operating there at the time. The European Commission, which oversees EES, said airports may be allowed to suspend it in certain circumstances until September. Schulte told BBC World at One that governments should step in and freeze the system instead of leaving each airport to decide on its own, warning that the busy travel season will last beyond early September and could bring a “total system collapse.” In Greece, the issue has also sparked controversy after the tourism minister told Britons they would not be subjected to the biometric checks, a claim later denied by the foreign ministry. Wizz Air executive Yvonne Moynihan recently advised travelers to allow at least three hours for the process in busy hubs such as Spain, Portugal and France.
