European airports and airlines have complained that the EU’s electronic border control system is causing waits of between two and three hours during peak times, and called on the European Commission to introduce “greater flexibility” into its operation.
The Entry/Exit System (EES), whose full implementation was completed on Friday, electronically records the passport and biometric data of third-country nationals travelling to the EU for short stays (90 days within a 180-day period).
“Border control authorities must be able to suspend the EES entirely when waiting times become excessive. This is essential not only in the coming weeks, but throughout the peak summer travel season,” said Oliver Jankovek, director of the Airports Council International Europe (ACI), in a statement.
Although the European Commission maintains that, on average, checking in a traveller using this system takes around 70 seconds, European airlines have stated that there have been ‘significant disruptions to air operations, with passengers missing their flights due to prolonged border checks’.
‘For example, a flight bound for the UK had 51 fewer passengers at the time of departure. Another flight had no passengers on board when the boarding gate closed, and 90 minutes later, 12 passengers had still not arrived at the gate,’ ACI explained in a statement issued jointly with European airlines.
A spokesperson for the European Commission acknowledged that ‘despite the agreed timetable, some Member States are encountering technical difficulties’, without specifying what these were, although he stated that they are ‘in close contact’ with them to resolve these issues.
‘Europe’s reputation as an accessible and efficient tourist and business destination is at stake, especially given that air transport is already facing significant disruptions due to the current situation in the Middle East,’ added Jankovec.