Key facts
- The EU's entry-exit system (EES) requires non-EU passengers to provide fingerprints and photos.
- Queues at Greek airports have led to passengers being shielded by gazebos from the sun.
- The head of 14 Greek airports described the situation as "unpleasant and dangerous."
- Authorities may not practically check UK passengers' biometrics, though no legal exemption exists.
- The ability for border police to suspend checks during peak times is set to end in September.
- Calls for a temporary suspension of the EES have been made by IATA and Ryanair.
- EU officials stated that only a small fraction of border crossing points are experiencing significant issues.
The head of 14 Greek airports has strongly criticized the European Union's new border checks, describing them as "unpleasant and dangerous" and calling for a complete overhaul. Alexander Zinell, CEO of Fraport Greece, stated that the current entry-exit system (EES), which mandates biometric data collection for non-EU travelers, is fundamentally flawed and causing significant delays.
Zinell's airports have resorted to using gazebos to shield passengers from the sun during lengthy queues. While Greek authorities have indicated that UK passengers, who form a large portion of tourists at these airports, may not have their fingerprints practically checked, there is no formal exemption. The ability for border police to temporarily suspend checks during peak times is set to expire in September, raising further concerns about the system's stability.
Zinell suggested that a solution could involve allowing passengers to register their biometric data before flying. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also called for the EES to be suspended until next summer, citing fears of chaos in popular holiday destinations. IATA has reported passengers experiencing delays and missed connections in several EU countries, and Ryanair has warned of significant queues at airports like Alicante, Málaga, and Palma.
Similar concerns have been raised for British cross-Channel ferry passengers, with warnings of "utter chaos" at the port of Dover if French border police do not suspend EES checks. Dover experienced substantial delays during the May half-term holiday. Despite these widespread issues and calls for a pause, EU officials have acknowledged the system is "not perfect" but have so far rejected temporary suspensions, noting that only a small number of border crossing points are experiencing difficulties.