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With the rollout of the EU’s new Entry Exit System (EES), travellers from the UK and beyond are facing unprecedented delays at passport control, with waiting times reportedly tripling, according to Ivan Bassato, Chief Aviation Officer at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport. As summer travel ramps up, Ryanair has issued warnings to passengers, urging them to prepare for extended waits and potential disruptions during their journey to Europe.
Significant Wait Times at European Airports
The implementation of the EES, which requires non-EU visitors to submit biometric data upon entering the Schengen area, has led to notable congestion at several key airports. Reports indicate that the time taken for UK nationals to clear passport control has surged from an average of seven minutes to an alarming 20 minutes. This scenario is further exacerbated by technical glitches in the system, causing some passengers to miss their flights altogether.
As holidaymakers flock to popular destinations, the reality of waiting for hours at passport control has become increasingly common. Visitors to Rome are sharing frustrating experiences, with one family from Yorkshire recounting a two-hour wait with young children. Similarly, David and his wife from the US reported a one-hour delay that made them miss their pre-arranged transportation.
Technical Glitches Complicate the Process
The EES, which has been phased in since October, employs automated kiosks to collect fingerprints and photographs from arriving passengers. However, many of these kiosks have been plagued by malfunctions, leading to longer queues. At Portugal’s Faro Airport, Superintendent Pedro Oliveira acknowledged that what might have once been a 10-minute wait can now stretch to over half an hour, especially during peak travel periods.
Despite reassurances from authorities that queues would clear quickly, the reality remains that passengers are facing significant delays. While the European Commission insists that disruptions are limited, many airports are struggling to cope with an influx of travellers, particularly from the UK.
Calls for Urgent Reform
In light of these challenges, Bassato has called for an urgent review of the EES, highlighting the need to eliminate redundancies and streamline the process. Currently, only Sweden and Portugal are utilising the EU’s pre-registration app, a tool that could ease some of the pressure at border controls. Bassato’s assertion that the current situation is “absolutely not okay” underscores the urgency of addressing these issues.
Efforts to recruit additional border officers are underway, particularly in Portugal, where children under 16 are required to provide biometric information in person. However, the reliance on technology continues to pose challenges, with Superintendent Oliveira noting that server issues can impact multiple countries simultaneously.
Future of Travel in the EU
As the summer travel season continues, the pressure is on EU authorities to resolve the complications associated with the EES. Airports and airlines are advocating for the flexibility to suspend the system during particularly busy periods, but recent discussions have yet to yield concrete changes.
As travellers navigate this new landscape, it’s clear that the EES rollout has significant implications for the future of travel within Europe, particularly for UK nationals.
Why it Matters
The ongoing delays at passport control not only affect individual travellers but could also have broader implications for tourism in Europe. With many UK holidaymakers choosing to visit European destinations, lengthy waits may deter future travel and impact the economic landscape for airlines and hospitality industries. As authorities work to address these challenges, the necessity for an efficient and user-friendly border control system has never been more critical.
