Airlines and airports have called for the suspension of the new EU biometric border check system during the peak summer holiday period, warning that some flights are departing half empty and passengers are facing queues of up to five hours.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, industry groups ACI Europe, Airlines 4 Europe and the International Air Transport Association requested the option to suspend checks under the system, citing fears that the situation will worsen during the busy summer season.
“We have reached a critical point,” the groups stated. “Passengers have already been forced to queue for extended periods outside terminal buildings and on exposed aprons because border control facilities cannot process arrivals quickly enough.” They added that airlines face half-empty planes at gate closing time while passengers remain stuck in border control queues.
The system, gradually introduced since October, requires non-EU citizens to register fingerprints and a photograph at their destination airport. However, the rollout has encountered significant problems, with Greece suspending biometric checks for British travellers until September, and French police temporarily suspending extra checks at the Port of Dover in May.
The groups called for the commission to allow airports to “completely suspend” checks during July and August whenever passenger volumes exceed operational capacity. They warned that “some international travellers are reconsidering trips to Europe because of the prospect of excessive border delays,” undermining Europe’s reputation and tourism.
European airports are expected to handle approximately 40 million more passengers in July and August than the previous two months. The groups emphasised the need for flexibility to continue suspensions from September, when rules allowing some checks to be skipped are due to be phased out, until sufficient staff are available and automated kiosks are reliable.
