European airlines warned on Wednesday that the new entry system for travelers to the open-border Schengen area will cause «severe disruptions» during the peak summer months, and called for action to address «critical issues» behind current delays.
The Schengen area is a European space that allows freedom of movement between member states without internal border controls.
The new entry and exit system (EES), in effect since October, aims to replace passport stamps and ensure better information exchange among the 27 EU countries through automated facial and fingerprint scans for non-EU citizens.
In a joint letter from the European branch of the Airports Council International (ACI), «Airlines for Europe» (A4E), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), it was stated: «Without immediate measures to provide sufficient flexibility, severe disruptions during the peak summer months are highly likely, with waiting times potentially reaching four hours or more».
The three organizations explained they had written to European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner to highlight «long and continuous waiting times of up to two hours at border control points in airports», despite the new system's gradual rollout having started in October.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is designed to enable authorities to monitor anyone overstaying their permitted time in the Schengen area or individuals who have been denied entry.
However, airline associations pointed to a «chronic shortage of border control staff» and «persistent technical issues with the automated systems».
These organizations have asked the commissioner to confirm whether Schengen countries can suspend the EES system, either partially or fully, until October to allow for greater flexibility during the summer months.
