Concerns about potentially hours-long waits at airports during peak summer travel season have tourism and aviation officials calling for suspension of the European Union’s Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES).
“We are very worried for the summer,” Marco Troncone, the Chief Executive of Aeroporti di Roma, which operates two airports in Rome, told the Financial Times. “The process proves to be incompatible with the peak volumes that we are going to face. So the only way is to open up the valve.”
The EES is the EU’s new biometric border system. It was intended to speed up immigration and prevent visa overstays, but has been hampered by technology problems.
Airports Warn of Long Border Delays
Initially rolled out for holders of EU passports, the EES was expanded to all international travelers earlier this year. The process includes collection of fingerprints and facial images from all travelers.
In a July 1 open letter to the head of the European Commission, Airports Council International (ACI) EUROPE called for airports to be permitted to suspend EES requirements as needed during peak travel periods.
“The current implementation of the EES is creating severe operational consequences disrupting passengers and putting border authorities, airports and airlines under unsustainable pressure,” according to the letter from ACI Europe to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Since the full rollout of the EES in April, waiting times at border control have increased significantly, now reaching up to five hours during peak traffic periods.”
The delays are impacting millions of passengers, the letter noted, with airports and airlines are experiencing growing operational disruption, including flight delays, missed connections and increasing pressure on frontline staff.
“We are now entering the busiest period of the year. During July and August alone, European airports are expected to handle approximately 40 million more passengers than during the previous two months,” according to ACI Europe. “Beyond the immediate operational consequences, the reputation of the European Union and the confidence in the regulatory framework are also at stake.
“Europe must remain a destination that is not only secure but also efficient, welcoming and competitive. Reports already suggest that some international travelers are reconsidering trips to Europe because of the prospect of excessive border delays. This is undermining Europe’s reputation, European tourism and connectivity, in particular.”
Industry Urges Immediate Fixes
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) also is calling for action to safeguard the implementation of EES without disrupting travel, including:
- Accelerating adoption of the Travel to Europe app for digital EES pre-registration
- A coordinated communication campaign aimed at improving understanding of new border requirements
- Guaranteeing full operational readiness at borders through adequate staffing, reliable equipment and streamlined processes
