Airlines and airports have warned that they have reached a “critical point” in the implementation of the new EU biometric border control system, calling for more powers for countries to completely suspend the procedures during July and August.
In an open letter to EU president Ursula von der Leyen published on Wednesday, 1 July, the European branch of trade association Airports Council International (ACI) said the new entry/exit biometric system (EES) is creating “unsustainable pressure” and urged immediate intervention before the situation deteriorates further.
ACI Europe represents 600 airports in 55 countries, with its members facilitating over 95 per cent of commercial traffic in Europe.
Airports and airlines have previously warned customers of hours-long queues at border control due to the new EU entry-exit system (EES) rollout, which requires them to give biometric information such as fingerprints and a photo upon first entry into the Schengen Area.
“The current implementation of the EES is creating severe operational consequences, disrupting passengers and putting border authorities, airports and airlines under unsustainable pressure. We therefore urge your immediate intervention before the situation deteriorates further during the peak summer travel season,” the letter stated.
ACI explains that while it recognises the “vital role” that the EES plays in strengthening security of the EU’s borders, the rollout of the system has seen wait time increase significantly, now reaching five hours during peak times.
Europe’s airlines and airports are urging the European Commission to immediately allow EU countries to have “all the flexibility needed” to completely suspend EES when passenger volumes exceed operational capacity in July and August.
It says it expects that European airports will handle approximately 40 million more passengers than during the previous two months, and without added flexibility, “existing challenges will inevitably intensify”.
ACI is also asking that, from September, border control authorities have the flexibility to suspend EES procedures during exceptional circumstances.
Currently, the EU has confirmed that border controls have temporary flexibility to suspend the collection of biometric data until the start of September, but ACI says this is not enough.
“While this measure has provided some relief, it has not prevented excessive queues for passengers nor preserved airport and airline operations,” the letter says.
The letter also explains that millions of passengers entering the Schengen Area have been impacted so far, including families travelling with young children, elderly passengers and persons with reduced mobility.
“At the same time, airports and airlines are experiencing growing operational disruption, including flight delays and missed connections and increasing pressure on frontline staff,” it added, stating that planes are departing half empty at gate closing time while passengers are stuck in border queues.
ACI said that the flexibility measures it has called for should remain in place until structural industry changes have been addressed, such as adequate staff numbers, stability of the EES platform, functional deployment of the EES self-service kiosks, and the deployment of a pre-registration app.
The Independent has contacted President von der Leyen’s spokesperson and the EU’s Migration and Home Affairs department for comment.
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