European airports are bracing for summer chaos as the continent's airport chief warns he 'doesn't know' how they will cope with massive delays triggered by the EU's new border system. Stefan Schulte, president of European airports trade body ACI Europe, told an industry event in Prague: 'Passengers are queuing for hours at peak traffic times and I just do not know how we will be able to cope in the coming weeks with the expected increase in traffic.'
EES Rollout Causes Delays
The EU completed the rollout of its new Entry-Exit System (EES) earlier this year, requiring passengers from outside the bloc to register biometric information when entering and leaving most European nations. The system has been held responsible for substantial delays and missed flights at numerous airports, though others have reported smoother implementation.
Earlier this month, the Mirror reported from Athens, where huge queues caused around 20 passengers to miss their flight to London Luton. The EES was not in operation there, raising concerns about how the airport will manage once an extra hurdle is introduced.
Urgent Call for Suspension
Schulte urged politicians to 'stop pretending that EES is working just fine. It is not.' He said the system should be suspended when needed 'to avoid chaos.' 'We urgently need full flexibility for border control authorities to suspend the EES whenever needed to avoid further chaos – along with a rethink of those processes,' he added. 'This is about showing respect and decency for those who chose to travel to the EU, and safeguarding our reputation as a welcoming and efficient destination.'
The European Commission, which manages the EES, has indicated it will permit airports to suspend the new system in certain circumstances until September. Schulte told the BBC's World at One that governments ought to step in and suspend the EES, rather than allowing queues to build up while individual airports decide whether to act. The busy summer travel period will extend well beyond early September, he cautioned, and could lead to the 'complete collapse of the system.'
Greece Exemption Confusion
Earlier this year, a row broke out over the system in Greece, where the tourism minister assured Britons that they would not be 'burdened' by the new biometric checks. However, the Greek Foreign Ministry subsequently denied that any such exemption existed, stating it was not aware that 'specific nationalities are temporarily exempt from the relevant procedure.'
Wizz Air Advises Extra Time
Last month, the UK chief of budget carrier Wizz Air advised passengers to allow a minimum of three hours to get through the new system. While some passengers had experienced 'seamless travel' in certain locations, Yvonne Moynihan confirmed there had been lengthy queues at 'usual hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, France.'
