Ryanair and Berlin Airport officials have warned of severe disruptions to summer travel because of the European Union's new digital border check system. Non-EU nationals currently face waiting times of up to two hours when entering European countries. These delays could lead to significant problems for families travelling during the peak holiday season.
This new system, known as the Entry-Exit System (EES), requires travellers from outside the EU to register biometric information upon entry and exit. The aim is to modernize border control, enhancing security and streamlining travel in the long run. However, its implementation since April has resulted in inconsistent performance and widespread reports of long queues.
This situation adds to broader concerns about travel efficiency and economic impact across the EU. Such delays can deter tourism, a significant contributor to many European economies. Previous efforts to digitize public services have often faced initial challenges, but the scale of international travel makes EES issues particularly impactful. The travel industry is a crucial employer and revenue generator, and sustained disruptions threaten its recovery post-pandemic.
Neal McMahon, Ryanair's chief operations officer, stated, "Passengers and families should not be used as guinea pigs for a half-baked passport control system that risks creating long queues, missed flights and unnecessary stress this summer." Aletta von Massenbach, the boss of Berlin Airport, described the situation as "not bearable over the summer." She noted that non-EU nationals face queues of up to two hours at her airport.
The immediate implication is a potentially stressful and costly summer for many travellers. Airlines and airports are pressing for contingency measures or even a postponement of the system's full enforcement. Decision-makers in both the EU Commission and member states will need to address the technical and operational inconsistencies quickly. Failure to do so could lead to increased public frustration, a downturn in tourism, and financial losses for airlines and related businesses.
Airports like Tenerife South, Palma, Alicante, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Krakow, and Paris Beauvais have already experienced major disruptions. The head of Europe's airports trade body expressed serious concerns about the EES. Travellers have reported missing flights due to prolonged waiting times at passport control.
One key issue is that individual EU countries use different sub-systems, increasing complexity. Ms. von Massenbach highlighted that "the complexity doesn't really support smooth processing at the border." This fragmentation complicates efforts to create a unified and efficient border control. The Port of Dover in the UK, for instance, cannot use its new processing kiosks due to unresolved technology issues with French authorities.
Airlines UK and Airlines for America have criticized the inconsistent rollout of the EES. They urged the Commission and member states to consider pragmatic solutions and the realism of the current timeline. Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, called the continued pursuit of this policy "baffling." Pausing EES checks where systems are not ready would improve holidaymakers' experience, he suggested.
Despite a "very high level meeting in Brussels," where officials reportedly began to grasp the severity, immediate solutions remain unclear. An airports lobby group, ACI Europe, has written to EC president Ursula Von Der Leyen, citing wait times of up to five hours during peak periods. They warned of "half-empty planes at gate closing time, while passengers are stuck in border control queues." An EC spokesman affirmed that "all efforts are being made to limit the impact on travellers from outside the EU."