British tourists could face 'unacceptable' six-hour waits at passport control in European airports because of new EU border checks, an airline body warned today.
Rafael Schvartzman, International Air Transport Association (IATA) vice-president for Europe, said the new Entry Exit System (EES) could create 'challenging' queues. The checks, which came into force in April, had created a 'hard risk' of long waiting times that have already caused people to miss flights home.
The EES sees visitors from third-party countries such as the UK have their fingerprints registered and photographs taken to enter the free movement Schengen Area. When someone leaves the zone – made up of 29 European countries mainly in the EU – these details are checked, creating lengthy waits for returning passengers.
IATA: 'Unacceptable' Waiting Times Expected
Mr Schvartzman told the IATA's annual conference the system was not being implemented uniformly. Some countries lack the correct technology or enough staff at kiosks. 'What we are seeing is a very hard risk of really challenging times or waiting times talking about expectations of three, four, five, six hours which is unacceptable. There are many cases where people have lost flights or their connectivity,' he said.
'Without EES it takes between 20 and 25 seconds to process a passenger. With EES we are talking about 90 seconds.' — Rafael Schvartzman, IATA
Mr Schvartzman also claimed some countries had been 'trying to make an exception for the British but it is an effect of Brexit', adding that 'every passenger should be treated the same'.
Airlines Already Feel the Pain
- WizzAir has warned passengers to arrive at airports three hours before their flight back to Britain.
- Ryanair has said planes will not wait for queueing passengers.
- In April, 100 easyJet passengers travelling from Milan Linate Airport to Manchester were unable to board a flight because of a three-hour wait at passport control.
- Last month, a Ryanair flight from Toulouse to Stansted left without 150 people after they could not get to the gate in time due to border control staff shortages in France.
Survey Reveals Widespread Fear
A recent survey commissioned by travel company Booking.com found nearly three out of five (59 per cent) UK holidaymakers travelling to Europe this year expect delays linked to the EES. Almost half said they fear missing flights because of the border checks.
Representative body Airports Council International reported that EES was already causing delays of up to three hours, with airports in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy among the worst affected. The survey indicated that 56 per cent of UK travellers plan to arrive at airports earlier than usual, with 12 per cent intending to arrive at least four hours before departure.
Mixed Implementation Across Europe
While some countries are postponing checks until September, others are creating digital profiles for travellers despite not yet taking photos and fingerprints. Greece, for example, revealed on April 17 it will not impose EES requirements on UK travellers this summer, leading to a surge in holiday demand.
A spokesman for the Airlines UK trade body said: 'European countries must take a pragmatic approach and make full and effective use of the permitted flexibilities for as long as needed while EES is implemented, to avoid border delays for passengers.'
The Bigger Picture: Fuel Crisis Looms
Separately, IATA head Willie Walsh warned soaring jet fuel prices driven by conflict in the Middle East are likely to push more airlines into bankruptcy and spur more sector consolidation this year and next. US budget airline Spirit Airlines collapsed last month, and Walsh said he expects some airlines to go out of business and others to be acquired by larger ones.
Global airlines are grappling with higher fuel costs driven by the US and Israel's war with Iran, which has choked jet fuel supplies and disrupted key air corridors, forcing costly detours. Budget carriers have been among the hardest hit.
Key takeaway for travellers: Allow at least three to four hours for return flights from EU airports, and check your airline's latest guidance before heading to the airport.