Travel experts are urging the European Commission to suspend the EES for summer
The EES is expected to continue causing delays at European airports over summer(Image: PA)
Brits travelling to Europe on holiday have been issued a warning ahead of summer, as the new EES entry-exit system continues to cause trouble at airports.
British holidaymakers have been urged to arrive at European airports three hours before their flight’s departure time due to lengthy queues caused by new border checks, the UK boss of budget airline Wizz Air has warned.
Yvonne Moynihan last week told the BBC the long delays getting through passport control at some European airports had caused some passengers to miss return or connecting flights.
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According to French news site The Connexion, Brits can again use PARAFE e-gates where these are available at borders, the French government has confirmed.
This is now said to be possible for visitors who need to register in the EES digital borders scheme as well as for nationals of the same countries who are residents of France with valid visas or residency cards.
ACI EUROPE (Airports Council International), A4E (Airlines for Europe) and IATA (International Air Transport Association) warned months ago that the EES continues to cause significant delays for passengers.
If changes aren’t made, travel leaders have said that severe disruptions are likely over the peak summer months, with queues expected to reach four hours or more.
Spanish news site Majorca Bulletin reported that in a letter sent to Magnus Brunner, EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, airports and airlines, the group urged the European Commission to partially or totally suspend EES until the end of October.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E and Thomas Reynaert, SVP External Affairs of IATA, said: “There is a complete disconnect between the perception of the EU institutions that EES is working well, and the reality, which is that non EU travellers are experiencing massive delays and inconvenience.
“This must come to an end immediately. We need to be realistic about what will happen during the peak summer months, when traffic at Europe’s airports doubles.
“The rollout of EES must be flexible to react to operational realities. This is an absolute prerequisite for its success – and for safeguarding the reputation of the EU as an efficient, welcoming and desirable destination.”
