Airports and airlines sounded the alarm on 15 July that the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System, due to become fully mandatory this summer, could create queues of up to five hours for non-EU travellers at Brussels Airport. Industry groups told The Brussels Times they want a “switch-off” option if waiting times exceed agreed thresholds. Brussels Airport currently records peak waits of 90 minutes at border control even before full fingerprint capture is activated. The Federal Police say they need 120 extra officers and 40 additional kiosks to stay within a 30-minute target but recruitment has lagged. Airlines fear missed connections will cascade into compensation claims under EU261 and have asked the Interior Ministry for real-time queue dashboards so carriers can re-time flights. Belgium’s travel-industry federation VVR warned that corporate travellers could shift to Schiphol or Paris-Charles de Gaulle if delays persist through the September trade-fair season. The airport operator responded that contingency lanes and mobile enrolment teams are being trained, but stressed that “political clarity on resource funding” is essential – a decision linked to the EU MFF negotiations described above. Business-travel managers should advise non-EU assignees to allow at least three hours between arrival and connecting EU-destinations until further notice and to use Automated Border Control gates where eligible.
Source: The Brussels Times
