- The EU began implementing the much delayed Entry Exit System in October last year.
- Stefan Schulte warned of EES chaos this summer.
- Passengers are queueing for hours at peak traffic times.
The president of ACI Europe has warned that EES delays are already out of hand and are likely to continue this summer. Stefan Schulte who is also CEO of Fraport issued a stark warning over the continued impact of the European Union’s Entry Exit System. Airports report mounting disruption ahead of the peak travel season.
The EU began implementing the Entry Exit System in October last year. It requires non EU citizens excluding those of Iceland Liechtenstein Norway or Switzerland to undergo biometric checks. The rollout faced delays due to fears of lengthy queues at passport check facilities.
Schulte called for full flexibility for border control authorities to suspend the system whenever needed. Airports in countries including Italy and Portugal considered using flexibility rules during peak congestion. The Port of Dover’s new £40 million border processing area with 84 kiosks remains unlikely to open this summer.
The Westminster government pledged a total of £10.5 million in August 2024 to support the Entry Exit System transition at three border checkpoints. The Port of Dover Eurotunnel at Folkestone and the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras International each received £3.5 million. French authorities suspended Entry Exit System checks at the port over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend after passengers faced queues of more than four hours.
Port of Dover CEO Doug Bannister confirmed the latest indications show the new area will most probably not be available for the summer season. Airlines including easyJet advise passengers to arrive with plenty of time to spare. The official Westminster government advice states that checks may take slightly longer than previously.
Stefan Schulte shared “Passengers are queueing for hours at peak traffic times and I just do not know how we will be able to cope in the coming weeks with the expected increase in traffic. We urgently need full flexibility for border control authorities to suspend the EES whenever needed.
“EU Home Affairs Commissioner Brunner and Home Affairs Ministers must stop pretending the situation is manageable and that the EES is working just fine. We urgently need full flexibility for border control authorities to suspend the EES whenever needed to avoid further chaos along with a rethink of those processes.”
