EU border rules causing travel chaos before peaking, companies warn | Aviation News

European airlines and airports want flexibility to stop digital frontiers amid high delays.

The European Union’s new digital system for checking European borders is causing major travel chaos, with passengers facing five-hour queues and departure gates closing with half-full planes, industry representatives have warned.

In an open letter published online on Wednesday, Europe’s main airport and airline trade union said delays caused by the bloc’s recently introduced Entry/Exit System (EES) had reached “critical levels”.

Recommended Articles

list of 4 itemsend of series

“The recent implementation of the EES is causing operational difficulties, confusing passengers and putting border guards, airports and airlines in an unsustainable situation,” Airports Council International Europe, Airlines for Europe, and the International Air Transport Association said in a letter to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

“That’s why we urge you to act quickly before the situation worsens during the peak summer travel season.”

With Europe’s airports expected to handle 40 million more passengers in July and August than in the previous two months, EU leaders “need to see the current situation and what our airlines will face in the coming weeks,” lobby groups said.

“Without some flexibility, the existing problems will only get worse,” he said.

“As representatives of the European airline industry, we have a responsibility to warn that this will make the passenger situation even worse.”

Warning that travel disruptions are damaging the reputation of the EU and European tourism, the industry groups said it was important for the continent to continue to be a “good, welcoming and competitive place”.

“Reports are already showing that some international travelers are reconsidering their journeys to Europe due to border delays,” he said.

Until the stability of the EES is confirmed and enough staff are established, EU member states should be immediately given the option to “suspend” the new system whenever the number of passengers exceeds the “capacity” of the border area, lobby groups said.

The World Travel and Tourism Council, the world’s largest organization representing tourism-related businesses, said on Wednesday it accepted the letter’s call, warning that the delay could put up to 41 million people and $45.4bn in tourist spending at risk.

“If long delays become acceptable, commuters will look elsewhere,” WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said in a statement.

“Europe cannot afford to disrupt its competition or events that provide millions of tourists.”

The European Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Al Jazeera outside business hours.

The EU began issuing EES in October as an alternative to passport stamps.

The system records each traveler’s name, passport details, fingerprints and facial images, date and place of entry and exit.

The European Commission declared the ESS “fully operational” across the Schengen area in April, but the system has been criticized for long delays since its launch, including cases of flights leaving many passengers before boarding.