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New EU border checks raise fears of lengthy airport queues for UK travellers
Biometric entry system already causing delays at popular Spanish and European destinations
UK holiday makers in Spain or heading to Europe are being warned to brace themselves for potentially long queues at passport control as the EU’s new Entry Exit System continues its gradual rollout.Reports from several airports suggest that waits of two to three hours are already being recorded at busy times, with industry bodies cautioning that delays could stretch much longer during peak travel periods. Airports and travel associations are warning that the new biometric border checks could lead to five or even six hour queues this summer if contingency measures are not used.
The digital Entry Exit System, known as EES, is designed to replace traditional passport stamps for non-EU travellers. Instead, passengers must register fingerprints and have a photograph taken the first time they cross into the Schengen zone, with the data then stored for three years. While the system officially began a phased introduction in October, it is still only operating at around half of border points.Problems have already been reported at airports popular with British travellers. Geneva Airport has acknowledged congestion at passport control, particularly on Saturdays during the busy ski season, saying that the introduction of EES has been a “major challenge”. Videos shared online recently showed queues lasting up to three hours.
Similar issues have been seen in Spain. At Tenerife airport, some passengers have passed through border control in around 20 minutes, while others have faced delays of up to two hours when several flights arrive close together. As one airport business owner put it, “It’s really hit and miss. A few times the systems have gone down, and that’s when the queues build very quickly.”
According to Airports Council International Europe, the new checks mean border processing now takes four to five times longer than before. Its director general, Olivier Jankovec, warned that without flexibility, “the situation could become unsustainable at border control” during the Easter and summer holidays.
EU officials insist the system is largely working as intended. European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert said that 23 million entries and exits have already been recorded under EES, adding that member states can temporarily scale back or suspend the system during peak periods if necessary.
Travel groups say this flexibility is not always being used. ABTA has urged border authorities to make full use of contingency measures to avoid passengers being “caught up in lengthy delays”, especially as EES is due to be fully operational for all eligible travellers from April.
For now, the advice to travellers is simple. As Julia Lo Bue-Said of the Advantage Partnership said, “Plan for the worst. Bring refreshments, allow extra time, and be prepared for longer waits, particularly at peak travel times.”
Images: wikicommons and digital representation
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