The aviation industry has urged the European Union to pause its new biometric border control system during the busy summer holiday season, citing significant delays and long queues that are impacting travel. Passengers have reportedly faced wait times as long as five hours at border checks, resulting in some flights taking off with empty seats as travelers remain stuck in lines. Airlines have occasionally postponed departures to accommodate passengers caught in these delays.
Since its gradual introduction in October, the system mandates non-EU travelers to submit fingerprints and facial scans upon entry. However, airports and border authorities have encountered operational difficulties with the implementation. Industry groups have appealed to the European Commission to consider temporarily halting these checks in July and August during periods when passenger volumes surpass the capacity of border controls.
Several nations have already faced challenges with the system’s rollout, leading some locations to either reduce or suspend biometric checks to avoid severe disruptions during peak travel times. The ongoing issues could potentially harm Europe’s tourism sector and its standing in international travel, especially as airports gear up for a significant influx of travelers over the summer.
Industry representatives emphasized the need for more personnel, enhanced technology, and dependable automated systems to ensure the biometric checks function efficiently without causing major disruptions. They stressed that until these improvements are in place, the risk of continued delays remains a concern for the travel industry.