Brussels is under intense pressure to suspend its new post-Brexit border rules for British holidaymakers, with aviation leaders warning of significant travel chaos and airport queues exceeding five hours this summer. Global and European aviation chiefs have issued an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stating that the Entry/Exit System (EES), implemented in April, is already straining at many airports and could lead to thousands of passengers being stranded.
The EES requires non-EU citizens to register biometric data upon entering the Schengen Area. However, industry leaders warn that inadequate infrastructure and staffing levels at European airports are causing substantial delays. Passengers have already experienced queues of up to five hours, with reports of some individuals missing flights. One incident in April saw approximately 100 passengers returning to Manchester Airport from Milan's Linate airport stuck in three-hour queues, causing them to miss their EasyJet flight.
The aviation groups, including Airports Council International, Airlines for Europe, and the International Air Transport Association, are calling for the ability to suspend the EES system whenever necessary and revert to standard border checks until at least September. They argue that the current flexibilities, allowing for short-term suspensions, are insufficient to prevent widespread disruption.
"We have a responsibility to warn that this would result in a significant worsening of an already very difficult situation for passengers," the letter states. "This is not an issue confined to Europe's largest hubs. Smaller airports serving major tourism destinations are equally affected."
The potential consequences extend beyond passenger inconvenience, with warnings that half-full planes could depart and that the continent's reputation as a holiday destination is at stake. Some international travelers are reportedly already reconsidering trips to Europe due to the prospect of lengthy border delays.
Fears are also mounting for delays at ferry ports, such as Dover and Folkestone, where French border checks are conducted on UK soil. Previous attempts by countries like Greece, Portugal, and Italy to exempt British travelers from certain aspects of the system have been rejected by the EU Commission.
Airlines UK, representing major carriers, has urged the EU Commission and member states to "get serious about contingency measures and take a pragmatic look at whether the current timeline is realistic" as peak summer travel approaches and the system continues to face operational challenges.
