Holiday radio network LBC revealed on 3 May that Portugal has quietly authorised manual passport stamping when EES queues exceed 25 minutes and that Italy plans to do the same before the UK half-term rush. Industry sources quoted in the piece say France and Croatia are ‘almost certain’ to grant similar dispensations, fearing reputational damage to tourism. French officials have not confirmed the move, but the Commission’s 2 May flexibility note—already actioned by Paris airports—makes it legally possible. Tour operators estimate French regional airports stand to lose up to €120 million if families divert to ‘queue-free’ rivals in Spain or Greece. If France follows suit, corporate travellers could see a patchwork of procedures: biometric capture at larger hubs if kiosks are working, but a simple stamp at smaller airports like Nantes or Montpellier. Mobility managers should update pre-trip briefings to warn travellers they may need to give fingerprints on the outbound leg but not on return, which could complicate day-count calculations for those on Schengen-limited visas. The episode is a reminder that full automation of Europe’s borders remains a work in progress. Companies should keep scanning travel advisories and be ready to evidence stays with boarding passes or hotel bills should entry records later prove incomplete.
Source: LBC
