Airlines and airports are calling for urgent changes to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), warning that passengers could continue facing waits of up to five hours at border control unless Brussels and national governments act.
ACI EUROPE, which represents European airports, and Airlines for Europe (A4E) have put forward a six-point plan to tackle the disruption, almost six months after the system was fully implemented. The organisations say queues routinely exceed two hours during busy periods, leaving passengers at risk of missing flights and connections.
One of their main demands is to remove duplicate identity checks and simplify biometric verification, which involves collecting and checking travellers’ fingerprints and facial images. They also want to prevent duplicate EES profiles and upgrade the EU’s Travel to Europe app and website so passengers can complete more steps before reaching the border.
The plan also calls for more automated border control gates, with wider and more consistent access for non-EU nationals travelling into the Schengen area. The organisations are also asking authorities to retain the option of temporarily suspending biometric registration when waiting times become excessive, giving border officials greater flexibility during periods of severe congestion.
The groups acknowledge that EES has strengthened security at Europe’s external borders but say the system must work more efficiently. Staff shortages, unreliable IT systems and limited self-service facilities are among the problems they want addressed. They are urging the European Commission and member states to implement all six proposals, warning that passengers, airlines and airports cannot continue bearing the cost of avoidable delays.