Travelers heading to Europe this summer are being warned of potential significant delays and disruptions due to the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES), which officially began implementation on April 10. Experts advise arriving at airports at least three hours before flights to Schengen Area countries to avoid missing journeys, a substantial increase from the previous two-hour recommendation for short-haul flights.
Widespread issues have been reported at border controls, primarily stemming from technical malfunctions and the time-consuming process of collecting biometric data, including fingerprints and facial scans. These holdups have resulted in lengthy queues at major airports such as Milan and Amsterdam Schiphol, with some passengers already missing flights.
The EES aims to digitalize border entry for the Schengen Area, comprising 25 EU nations plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Its stated goals include preventing individuals from overstaying the 90-day limit within any 180-day period, detecting identity fraud, and curbing irregular migration. However, the system's rollout has been marred by what is described as inadequate preparation, with insufficient investment in necessary machinery and staffing.
Experts predict that these delays could extend throughout the summer holidays. The added processing time per passenger, even if only a matter of seconds, can accumulate significantly when multiplied by the capacity of large aircraft. For instance, an additional 20 seconds per passenger on a 189-seat aircraft could add over an hour to processing times. When multiple flights arrive or depart simultaneously during peak periods, the cumulative effect can be hours of delay.
There is also a concern that flights may depart without passengers if crews are forced to adhere to safety-regulated working hours. An EasyJet flight from Milan was reported to have departed with fewer than 30 passengers, leaving approximately 100 stranded at the airport, reportedly due to such circumstances.
If passengers miss their flights due to these delays, they are typically classified as 'no-shows' by airlines, and are not usually entitled to compensation. However, some travel insurance policies may offer coverage for such events.
For those planning holidays, destinations outside the Schengen Area, such as Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Cyprus, or Albania, might offer a less congested travel experience. Ireland, also outside the Schengen Area but an EU member, is another alternative.
While the EES is theoretically intended to expedite border crossings in the long term, current conditions suggest a period of significant disruption. Travelers are urged to build extra time into their journeys, with some suggesting arriving exceptionally early and utilizing airport amenities while waiting. Those renting vehicles will also need to adjust pick-up times to account for potential delays.
The system's issues are not limited to airports. Similar problems have been reported at ports like Dover and the Eurotunnel entry point in Folkestone, with manual processing currently in use due to technical issues on the French side. Even Eurostar services from London St. Pancras are experiencing delays as French border officials process passengers under the new, not-yet-fully-operational system.