British holidaymakers heading to Europe this summer are being warned to expect extreme delays at airports, with some facing queues of up to six hours. The warning comes from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which says the European Union's new digital border system poses a 'hard risk' of long waiting times and missed flights.
IATA Vice President Issues Warning
Rafael Schvartzman, IATA's vice-president for Europe, stated that delays and missed connections are already being seen in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Belgium, and other countries. Speaking at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, he described waiting times of three, four, five, or even six hours as 'unacceptable'.
The new Entry/Exit System (EES) requires fingerprints and facial biometrics from all 'third-country nationals' entering the Schengen Area. Since Brexit, UK citizens are classified as such, adding to processing times.
Impact on Airport Processing
According to Schvartzman, without EES, processing a passenger takes 20 to 25 seconds. With EES, it increases to 90 seconds, and technological issues exacerbate the problem. He urged European nations to ensure airports are adequately staffed, flight schedules are communicated in advance, and electronic kiosks function properly. He also advised proactively suspending EES checks before queues become excessively long.
Advice for Passengers
Schvartzman recommended that passengers allow much more time at the airport than usual. 'Until EES is working smoothly, arriving two to three hours before departures and getting airside as quickly as possible is a prudent approach,' he said.
Airport Operators Raise Concerns
ACI Europe, representing airports across the continent, reported that a survey of 45 airports in 20 EU countries found queues of up to three-and-a-half hours at peak times. The organisation noted that despite authorities using provisions to temporarily suspend biometric checks when queues become too long, the situation is deteriorating and could become increasingly difficult to manage during the summer holiday season.
Wizz Air Advice
Last week, Wizz Air advised British travellers to arrive at European airports three hours before their return flights due to ongoing lengthy queues caused by post-Brexit EU border checks. Yvonne Moynihan, managing director of Wizz Air UK, stated that delays at passport control due to EES have resulted in some passengers missing their return or connecting flights.
Controversy and Tourism Impact
The rollout of EES has proved controversial with airlines and passengers alike. There are worries about its effect on the tourism industry in countries where British visitors make up a large percentage of tourists. Greece has already confirmed that it will delay the full implementation of EES for British visitors until the peak summer months are over.
