The European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES), which has caused lengthy delays at major airports, may not stabilise for up to two years, according to a senior official. Uku Särekanno, a director of the EU border agency Frontex, told an event hosted by the UK travel association Abta that some member states are struggling to implement the system, which requires non-EU travellers to register personal information and biometrics at the border.
Särekanno stated: 'We expect that the situation will stabilise in one or two years. The most challenging part is the first enrolment, that is the moment where fingerprints and facial images will be taken. If a person is visiting the EU again, they don't have to go through the same process, so they can have a more fast track of entry.' The EES was initially introduced last October and fully rolled out on 10 April, with EU rules allowing temporary suspension of checks to avoid queues until September.
Concerns are mounting that the checks could lead to travel chaos this summer, dampening consumer confidence. Mark Tanzer, chief executive of Abta, warned that the system could damage demand for EU holidays. 'The rollout of the EU entry/exit system … is creating an unhelpful, and potentially damaging, backdrop for summer travel to EU destinations,' he said. He urged destinations to use contingency measures to suspend biometric registration where queues are unacceptably long.
In May, French police temporarily suspended extra checks at the Port of Dover, and Greece announced it would suspend biometric checks for British travellers until September to prevent disruption. Tanzer also noted that early summer bookings have been affected by the conflict in the Middle East and the rising cost of living, with consumers increasingly booking later in the year.
Shaun Morton, chief executive of holiday operator On the Beach, echoed these concerns, saying shorter lead times create uncertainty. However, he expressed optimism that the summer travel market would grow overall. 'This late loop will eventually reverse when the conditions allow it to,' he said. Shares in On the Beach have fallen 30% this year after the group warned of later bookings.
