European airport executives are warning the EU’s new Entry/Exit System risks major disruption during peak summer travel, with some airports considering suspending the system altogether to avoid widespread delays.
Marco Troncone, chief executive of Rome’s two airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino, told the Financial Times the system was incompatible with current passenger volumes and would need to be suspended to prevent “disaster”.
“There is no way that we can deliver 100 per cent of the enrolment,” Troncone said.
Stefan Schulte, president of Airports Council International Europe and head of Frankfurt Airport, said the rollout had caused widespread concern among European airport operators.
Greece briefly suspended the system for British travellers before reversing the decision.
The EES, which came into full effect in April, requires travellers entering the Schengen area to register fingerprints, photos and passport details through self-service kiosks. It applies across 29 Schengen countries, which allow passport-free movement between member states.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has warned Australian travellers to expect delays of up to six hours at European airports this summer as a result of the system’s struggles with peak season volumes.
DFAT said queues to access the kiosks were running long, advising travellers to prepare for extended waits.
“Queues to access EES self-service kiosks are long. Be prepared to stand for an extended time. Take food and water if needed,” a DFAT statement said.
The department warned travellers could miss flights even when arriving well ahead of departure time. Using a country’s dedicated app to pre-submit some data may reduce, but not eliminate, delays.
The EU has maintained the EES will ultimately make travel within the bloc more efficient, replacing manual passport stamps with a digital system that allows information to be shared between member states.
