Holidaymakers should allow several hours before their return flight to the UK due to delays caused by the EU's Entry Exit System (EES), an airline boss has warned. Wizz Air UK director Yvonne Moynihan said some travellers were missing flights after being held up at passport control while leaving several European countries.
What is the Entry Exit System?
Under the new scheme, passengers from third countries entering and leaving the Schengen zone are required to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics. Since its introduction last October, some 80 million people have been recorded entering or leaving under the system. The scheme was supposed to be fully operational in all participating countries by April 10, but some nations have experienced teething problems with the technology needed to process passengers, leading to delays.
Teething Problems and Delays
Greece has suspended its implementation of the EES this summer to alleviate problems at its many holiday hotspots. The EU Commission has insisted that the system is functioning smoothly at most airports and ports. However, Ms Moynihan said passengers should be prepared to wait and should allow as much as three hours when taking a flight out of the Schengen area. She told the BBC: 'Be conscious that there may be delays and just to ensure you have the proper supplies with you.' She added that it was hoped airports would bring in 'extra resilience and extra resource' to cope with increased numbers during the summer.
How Does the Entry Exit System Work?
Under the EES, passengers may be asked to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics on entry to all 29 countries in the Schengen area. That includes all EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus, in addition to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. For the most part, this is done via self-service kiosks in immigration halls. Passengers are required to scan their passport, provide their biometrics and answer questions on their stay. Registration must also be verified at the point of exit, with many travellers reporting long queues in some countries.
Options for Airports
Airports facing delays due to a large volume of passengers or technological issues have several options. Firstly, passengers can be registered manually onto the system at a passport control desk if the self-service machines do not recognise their documents. Airports can also suspend the system in 'exceptional circumstances' for up to six hours, reverting to traditional 'wet stamping' of passports.
Passengers are advised to plan ahead, allow extra time, and carry necessary supplies such as water and snacks in case of lengthy queues. With the summer travel season approaching, airports are expected to implement additional measures to manage the increased passenger flow.
