Summer travel chaos looms over Europe as biometric checks wreak havoc at borders.
Travel disruptions are feared to intensify this summer due to the European Union's new entry-exit system (EES), which has been plagued by technical issues, understaffing, and inconsistent application of rules. Airlines and airports have warned of a potentially disastrous experience for passengers, with huge queues and delays expected unless the biometric controls for foreign visitors are relaxed.
The staggered rollout of EES, starting from April 10, has already caused long lines at some European airports, despite provisions allowing border authorities to ease requirements if needed. The scheme's complexity and the lack of coordination among member states have led to a patchwork of inconsistent application of rules, with reports of self-service kiosks malfunctioning and limited access to pre-registration.
The Airports Council International (ACI) Europe has sounded the alarm, citing chronic understaffing at border control guards as an issue before EES was introduced. The director general, Olivier Jankovec, warned that queues of up to two hours are not sustainable, especially with double the traffic expected in July and August, which could lead to five-hour queues.
The UK travel association Abta has called on the EU to ensure all member states have communicated their contingency measures to staff on the ground. Mark Tanzer, Abta's chief executive, urged additional border guards at busiest times and a review of the system's performance.
While contingency measures may be in place for up to 90 days from April, airports are growing increasingly concerned about the lack of clarity on further extensions or adjustments to the rules. The situation has already led to a suspension of EES at Lisbon airport, where queues reached seven hours just before the new year.
As the summer travel season approaches, the EU must address these concerns and find a coordinated solution to mitigate disruptions caused by the new biometric checks.
Travel disruptions are feared to intensify this summer due to the European Union's new entry-exit system (EES), which has been plagued by technical issues, understaffing, and inconsistent application of rules. Airlines and airports have warned of a potentially disastrous experience for passengers, with huge queues and delays expected unless the biometric controls for foreign visitors are relaxed.
The staggered rollout of EES, starting from April 10, has already caused long lines at some European airports, despite provisions allowing border authorities to ease requirements if needed. The scheme's complexity and the lack of coordination among member states have led to a patchwork of inconsistent application of rules, with reports of self-service kiosks malfunctioning and limited access to pre-registration.
The Airports Council International (ACI) Europe has sounded the alarm, citing chronic understaffing at border control guards as an issue before EES was introduced. The director general, Olivier Jankovec, warned that queues of up to two hours are not sustainable, especially with double the traffic expected in July and August, which could lead to five-hour queues.
The UK travel association Abta has called on the EU to ensure all member states have communicated their contingency measures to staff on the ground. Mark Tanzer, Abta's chief executive, urged additional border guards at busiest times and a review of the system's performance.
While contingency measures may be in place for up to 90 days from April, airports are growing increasingly concerned about the lack of clarity on further extensions or adjustments to the rules. The situation has already led to a suspension of EES at Lisbon airport, where queues reached seven hours just before the new year.
As the summer travel season approaches, the EU must address these concerns and find a coordinated solution to mitigate disruptions caused by the new biometric checks.
️, i'm not surprised tho. everyone knew the ees system was gonna cause some issues but still gotta do something about it 
. airlines and airports have been warning us for ages that things weren't gonna be smooth, now it's just a case of "told you so" 
.
. but seriously though, the eu needs to get its act together and sort out this mess ASAP 
. they gotta work on communication, staff numbers and all that jazz 
. it's not rocket science, just basic logistics. so let's hope they step up their game before the summer crowds arrive 
.
... I mean, I get it, they wanna be all secure and stuff, but two hour queues? That's just nuts 
! I was trying to book a flight for summer last year and had to spend like 3 hours waiting in line just to check in 
️. It's not exactly the most welcoming experience, you know? And what's up with the lack of coordination between member states? It's like they're all playing their own games 
.
... I mean, come on, can't they just make it work for once? The whole point of EES is to streamline things and make travel easier, not harder 
. It's like they're putting up barriers instead of taking them down 
.
. Maybe it's time to rethink their approach or add some extra support for airports and border control guards 
. I mean, five hour queues? That's just crazy talk 
!
... understaffing is a major issue here and it's like they didn't think that one through 
... I guess the EU needs to sort out their act before summer arrives 
...
I mean, come on! Europe's got some serious issues with its summer travel plans 
. This EES thing is supposed to make things easier, but nope, it's just a hot mess 
. I'm starting to think the EU should've just kept the old system and stuck with "show your passport, please" 
. Biometric checks are cool and all, but not if they're gonna cause two-hour queues at airports 
. And what's up with the lack of coordination? It's like they didn't even plan for this 
. I think the EU needs to step in and sort out these issues ASAP 
. We can't have our summer vacations ruined by tech problems and bureaucratic red tape 
more than just tech problems 
anyway i did some research on this ees system and honestly its all super confusing lol i mean what even is the point of biometric checks if u dont have clear info on whats happening? 
can we just get a smooth travel experience for once??? 
And what's up with chronic understaffing at border control guards? It's like they're expecting us to show up out of the blue or something... 
I mean, I know Europe is supposed to be all fancy and stuff but can't they get their act together with these new biometric checks? 
... or maybe that's just what happens in July and August when all the tourists come out to play? 
and dont even get me started on the tech issues 
. I mean, come on EU, can't you guys just sort this biometric stuff out already? 
. And honestly, the lack of transparency is super annoying too... how are people supposed to plan their trips when there's no clear info on what's gonna happen next? 
. Let's hope they get it together before July and August or it'll be a total disaster! 
. And what's up with these long lines at self-service kiosks malfunctioning? 
. We need some serious contingency planning and a review of the system ASAP