Warnings of chaos at European airports next summer due to the EES system
The major aviation organizations in Europe have issued strong warnings about what they describe as "severe disruptions" that European airports may face during the upcoming summer season. This warning came in a rare joint statement from the European branch of Airports Council International (ACI), Airlines for Europe (A4E), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), highlighting the enormous logistical challenges posed by the new border control system.
The new Entry and Exit System (EES) and its impact
European concerns center on the implementation of the new Electronic Entry-Exit (EES) system, a sophisticated electronic system designed to replace traditional passport stamps with biometric data, including facial scans and fingerprints, for travelers from outside the European Union. While the system's stated aim is to enhance security and expedite information exchange among the 27 EU member states, the existing infrastructure at many airports may not be fully prepared to handle the additional time required to process each traveler's data, potentially leading to unprecedented congestion.
Long queue scenarios
The three organizations indicated in their letter that failure to take immediate action to provide the necessary flexibility in implementing the system could lead to disastrous scenarios during the peak summer travel season. Estimates suggest that queues could stretch to four hours or more at busy border crossings, threatening to ruin the travel experience for millions of tourists and negatively impact flight schedules, potentially resulting in significant operational losses for airlines due to accumulated delays.
Economic and touristic importance
These warnings are particularly significant given the economic context of the Schengen Area, which relies heavily on international tourism as an engine of growth, especially in southern European countries like Spain, Italy, Greece, and France. These concerns come at a time when the global travel sector is still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as European countries strive to restore visitor levels to pre-2019 levels. Any major disruption to entry could send negative signals to global tourism markets, potentially prompting travelers to seek alternative destinations with smoother entry procedures.
How the Schengen Area works
It is worth noting that the Schengen Area is one of the most significant achievements of the European project, allowing free movement between member states without internal border controls. For this reason, European authorities place paramount importance on securing the area's external borders. The new system (EES) primarily aims to monitor individuals who overstay their permitted period (90 days within a 180-day period) and detect attempts at illegal entry. However, the challenge lies in balancing stringent security requirements with the smooth flow of passengers, which is vital to the aviation sector.
