Airlines and airports are urging the European Union to temporarily halt its new biometric border control system during the high-traffic summer holiday months. They cite significant travel disruptions, with some passengers enduring border control wait times as long as five hours, leading to flights leaving with empty seats because travelers remain stuck in queues. In response, some airlines have even delayed flights, hoping passengers can complete the checks in time to board.
Implemented in stages since October, the system mandates that non-EU travelers provide fingerprints and facial images upon entering the bloc. The introduction has posed operational hurdles for airports and border authorities, impacting the flow of passenger traffic. Industry representatives are advocating for the European Commission to suspend the biometric checks in July and August when passenger volumes surpass the capacity of border controls.
Several countries have already encountered issues with the rollout, opting to reduce or pause the biometric checks to avoid severe disruptions during the busy travel season. The groups representing airlines and airports warn that ongoing delays could harm Europe’s tourism and international travel reputation, especially as airports brace for an influx of millions of travelers over the summer.
To ensure the biometric system runs smoothly without significant disruptions, industry leaders emphasize the need for more staffing, enhanced technology, and dependable automated systems. These improvements, they argue, are essential to mitigate the challenges currently faced by the new border control measures.