The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning to British travellers heading to Copenhagen Airport, reporting long delays at passport control for passengers from non-Schengen destinations, including the UK. The delays are attributed to the full implementation of the EU's Entry and Exit System (EES) at the airport, which requires fingerprinting and photographing of non-EU travellers.
The FCDO advises passengers with accessibility needs, those travelling with young children, or those with tight flight connections to make themselves known to airport staff in yellow vests who are monitoring queues. For departures to the UK and other non-Schengen destinations, travellers are urged to allow extra time for passport control queues.
The EES system, over 12 years in development, has caused similar disruptions across Europe, including at the Port of Dover, where queues led to the temporary suspension of checks. The system applies to 29 European countries in the Schengen Area, requiring third-country nationals like UK passport holders to register biometric data upon entry.
Airports Council International (ACI) Europe has warned that queue times could become unmanageable during peak summer months. EasyJet's CEO has criticised European member states for not using flexibility granted by the European Commission to mitigate delays, calling the situation 'inexcusable' given the years of preparation time.
