ACI Europe Chief Warns EU Border System Triggers Hours-Long Airport Queues

1 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 23

Stefan Schulte said the EU’s new Entry-Exit System is leaving passengers queueing for hours at peak times and could overwhelm airports as summer traffic rises.
The system, rolled out earlier this year, requires most non-EU travelers to register facial scans and fingerprints on entry and have them checked again when leaving the Schengen zone.
Recent disruptions have already stranded travelers: Ryanair passengers in Athens missed a London Luton flight this month, and passengers in Milan Bergamo and Milan Linate missed Manchester flights in April.
Schulte urged border authorities to get flexibility to suspend EES when needed and called for a broader rethink, while confusion persists over whether countries such as Greece, Italy or Portugal can soften checks for British travelers.