A British holidaymaker has taken to social media to highlight their nightmare experience trying to leave Tenerife South Airport last weekend. Describing it as 'absolute carnage', the traveller shared a clip walking alongside an hour-long queue of passengers trying to get through border control.
Long wait times due to new EU system
This long wait time comes as many passengers trying to leave the Schengen area over the past few months have complained about being stuck in large queues as a result of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) at border control, with some even missing their flights home.
Sharing a video of his experience at Tenerife South Airport on Saturday, July 4, TikTok account user @tcmz91 branded the border control queue as a 'nightmare', while also sarcastically writing in the caption: 'Lovely end to the holiday!!'
Video goes viral
In the clip, which has garnered hundreds of likes and comments, the TikTok user walks past multiple shops and a long queue of passengers waiting to use the EES. While the queue moves a bit during the video, many other passengers also walk past to join the end of the line.
Adding to the clip: 'The queue just keeps on giving', many viewers have shared their own experiences at the airport following recent trips - with some having a better time than others.
While one person wrote: 'No queue for me there yesterday', the clip owner responded: 'Absolute carnage here today!! Been queuing for over an hour and still got a fair way to go!!'
Mixed experiences from travellers
Meanwhile another passenger grumbled: 'This is actually a nightmare, we had to queue as well not as far back but still a long queue. Thought we were going to miss our flight.'
A third person also recalled: 'I was there on July 4 first thing and it was like this. We must have been there at the same time, it was horrendous.'
However, some holidaymakers have been luckier than others, as one person wrote: 'I was there yesterday, went right through. Queues went down in minutes.' With another adding: 'I was there that day, absolutely nothing.'
One traveller also noted: 'It was a very long queue at 5pm but to be honest it took about half an hour to get through and reps from all companies were coming along and fast tracking anybody who’s flight was due very soon.'
EES system details and backlash
The EES system was officially launched in the Schengen area on April 10 and requires first time users to register their fingerprints and facial image into the biometric system. Once this has been collected, the data is said to remain in the system for three years to make going through border control a smoother experience.
However, with repeated reports of passengers waiting in queues for hours in a variety of countries, with some missing their flights home, European airports and airlines have called for the European Commission to suspend the use of the digital system until September.
This comes amid warnings that wait times for the new system could rise to six hours long during the peak summer travel period. However, despite an open letter being written to the president of the Commission last week, all appeals have been rejected.
While the Commission has deemed the total suspension of EES 'impossible', it is still allowing authorities to suspend the use of the biometric system at specific times during peak traffic periods.
If holidaymakers are heading to Europe this summer, travel experts are urging that you make it to your departure airport in plenty of time to avoid delays.
