Travellers at several European airports are facing delays of up to three hours due to the EU's new entry-exit system (EES), according to the Airports Council International (ACI). The system, which requires non-EU passengers to register personal information and biometrics, has caused significant queues in countries including France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Greece.
Olivier Jankovec, director of ACI Europe, warned that the situation would become 'simply unmanageable' during peak summer months. He noted that queue times are already building up as traffic increases. The EES came into full effect on 10 April in Schengen countries, affecting travellers from the UK and other non-EU states.
On Sunday, over 100 passengers missed an easyJet flight from Milan to Manchester due to passport desk delays. Airport representatives met with the European Commission on Tuesday to discuss problems. The ACI has requested the power to suspend EES checks when waiting times become excessive.
The European Commission defended the system, stating it is 'working very well' in most member states and that average registration takes 70 seconds. However, the ACI claims it can take up to five minutes. The Commission acknowledged technical issues in a few countries but said they are being addressed.
Since October, the EES has registered over 52 million entries and exits, with more than 27,000 refusals of entry and nearly 700 individuals identified as security threats. Meanwhile, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary described the system as 'a shambles' and called for its postponement until October.
