The EU digital border scheme is causing three-hour waits at passport control as officials struggle with a 70 per cent increase in the time taken to carry out border checks, says the group representing Europe’s airports.
Airports Council International (ACI) in Brussels is calling for an urgent review of the entry-exit system (EES), which began its rollout across Europe in October.
During the six-month introduction, third-country nationals such as British travellers continue to have their passports examined and stamped by frontier staff. But in addition, the EES requires fingerprints to be registered and a facial biometric to be taken. Many airports have had kiosks installed for that purpose.
At present, only one in 10 travellers is required to undergo digital registration. From January 9, the proportion will rise to 35 per cent.
But Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI in Europe, warned: “Significant discomfort is already being inflicted upon travellers, and airport operations are being impacted, with the current threshold for registering third-country nationals set at only 10 per cent.
“Unless all the operational issues we are raising today are fully resolved within the coming weeks, increasing this registration threshold to 35pc as of January 9 “as required by the EES implementation calendar” will inevitably result in much more severe congestion and systemic disruption for airports and airlines. This will possibly involve serious safety hazards.
“The EES cannot be about mayhem for travellers and chaos at our airports.”
ACI says the worst impact is being felt at airports in France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
The group is calling for the rollout schedule “which is due to be completed by April 9” to be moderated.
A spokesperson for the European Commission said: “The entry-exit system was successfully launched across member states in a progressive approach on October 12. Since its start, the system has operated largely without issues, and any initial challenges typical of new systems have been effectively addressed.
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