British holidaymakers travelling across Europe this summer have been warned to factor in triple the usual time at airports as the EU's new digital Entry Exit System (EES) causes lengthy delays. The system, which requires non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area to scan fingerprints and a photo on arrival, has led to hour-long queues at passport control, with many passengers missing flights.
Rome Airport Reports Tripled Wait Times
According to Ivan Bassato, Chief Aviation Officer at Rome's Fiumicino airport, the time for UK nationals to get through border control has risen from seven minutes to 20 minutes. Bassato told the BBC: "We are not at the point where you have the same quality of the process [as] before the EES." He added that the airport is "absolutely not okay with" waits of one or two hours and that "we need to fix urgently certain aspects of the system."
Ryanair Slams 'Failed' System
Budget airline Ryanair issued a fresh warning to millions of UK families travelling to 15 European airports this summer, saying they are likely to encounter lengthy passport queues. Ryanair stated: "The reality is that the EES system isn’t working properly, and families are paying the price for a system that does not work months after launch. Passengers should not be the testing ground for unfinished border infrastructure." The airline advised passengers to "allow extra time for their journey and be prepared for extended waits at passport control."
European Commission Defends System
Despite the warnings, the European Commission said that in most EU airports disruption is limited, and member states will be supported in the system's implementation. It added: "This support will continue to the fullest extent possible." However, airports and airlines are urging the European Commission to allow them to proactively suspend the EES process ahead of particularly busy times. No changes have been made despite a meeting earlier this month.
EES Implementation and Challenges
The EES, rolled out since October, requires travellers to use self-service kiosks for fingerprint and photo scanning. Rome's Fiumicino airport has integrated e-gates alongside these kiosks, which Bassato said "improved things significantly" but still not to pre-EES levels. Countries that have introduced the EES can suspend it under exceptional circumstances, but no such suspensions have been granted for busy periods.
