EU's New Entry-Exit System Triggers Widespread Travel Chaos
Biometric requirements for third-country nationals cause significant delays at major European hubs and UK checkpoints, raising concerns for summer travel.
Sarah Connor
The European Union's new Entry Exit System (EES), fully implemented in April, has unleashed significant travel disruption, forcing millions from third-party countries like the UK to navigate extensive biometric registration for Schengen Area access.
This new protocol has caused extensive delays at airports and at French checkpoints located on UK soil, including the Port of Dover.
At Rome's Fiumicino airport, waiting times for UK citizens at passport control surged from seven minutes to 20 minutes.
Ivan Bassato, the boss of Rome's main airport, stated Fiumicino had yet to reach its pre-EES standard; he called waits of an hour or two 'absolutely not okay.'
Absolutely not okay.
Superintendent Pedro Oliveira of Portugal's Faro airport confirmed a ten-minute wait now extends to 30 minutes, tripling processing times.
Oliveira also noted the EU's new IT system experienced bugs; servers sometimes crash across all member states simultaneously, requiring reboots.
He added that while some queuing is expected due to high UK passenger numbers, travelers would still move quickly.
Airlines like Ryanair claim the EES system is not working properly, stating families pay the price for unfinished border infrastructure.
The airline insists passengers should not serve as the testing ground for these new systems; Ryanair reports the failed EES rollout causes unnecessary delays and long queues.
Wizz Air UK advised British passengers to arrive three hours before their flights from European airports due to anticipated long queues caused by the new system.
Yvonne Moynihan recommended passengers bring a portable charger or water when traveling to European airports due to potential queues.
Beyond the immediate delays, the Port of Dover invested a substantial £40 million in a new Western Docks facility, equipped with 84 kiosks for biometric details.
Doug Bannister, the port's chief, called it 'very disappointing' that French authorities have not activated these kiosks for cars, preventing their use.
Bannister stated the port will 'face repeated episodes of severe congestion' this summer unless the EU permits more flexibility in EES, which has not occurred.
It's very disappointing that French authorities have not activated these kiosks for cars, preventing their use. The port will face repeated episodes of severe congestion this summer unless the EU permits more flexibility in EES.
Border control enhancements often introduce initial friction; the International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects border queues could reach six hours this summer.
Many border points reportedly collect the same initial scans multiple times, further exacerbating the delays.
Stakeholders across the travel industry face immense pressure; airlines absorb passenger frustration, and port authorities manage infrastructure rendered ineffective by policy implementation.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and her French counterpart, Phillippe Tabarot, brokered an agreement for an increased French border force presence at UK-based checkpoints.
Ministers also announced an additional £20 million in funding to increase the number of passport booths, supplementing £10.5 million already allocated to prevent disruption.
More border officers have been recruited in Portugal to assist with the EES process, aiming to mitigate some of the delays.
A critical bottleneck remains with children under 12, who cannot use self-service kiosks and require processing by a border officer, adding another layer to potential delays.
The European Commission claims disruption in most EU airports remains limited and states it will continue to support member states in the system's implementation.
France's Ministry of the Interior reported the EES processed over 110 million entries and exits and prevented over 44,000 entry refusals; it claims no major congestion at French transport hubs.
Looking ahead, the long-term implications include potential shifts in travel patterns as tourists and businesses weigh the convenience of Schengen Area access against the new delays.
Superintendent Pedro Oliveira noted automated machines are generally the quickest way through the border, despite the system's occasional crashes.