The Government of Gibraltar moved quickly on Saturday to dispel a viral video that claimed “chaos” at the Rock’s airport following the introduction of the EU Entry-Exit System. In a statement backed by CCTV footage and sworn reports from the Borders & Coastguard Agency (BCA) and HM Customs, officials said the longest wait on Friday was 50 minutes for non-EU arrivals and that all passengers on Saturday morning cleared controls in less than 20 minutes. Six additional EES self-service kiosks are due to arrive next week, but authorities argue the system is already outperforming many mainland European airports that are also transitioning to biometrics. To improve the passenger experience, water stations, extra seating and tourism staff have been stationed in the arrivals hall, and residents—who are exempt from EES—are being urged to carry valid Gibraltar IDs to avoid secondary screening. Spanish and Gibraltarian officers concede that teething issues are inevitable when replacing manual stamps with fingerprints and facial recognition. Nevertheless, the ability to correct public misperceptions swiftly is critical: airlines and shipping agents required certainty ahead of the busy summer schedule; cross-border workers needed reassurance that daily commutes would not become unpredictable. Stakeholders on both sides of the border say the early data provide confidence that the new Schengen model—airport checks plus open land frontier—can deliver seamless mobility if adequately resourced. Businesses with frequent flyers should monitor further advisories, as installation of the extra kiosks may temporarily re-route passenger flows within the terminal.
Source: Europa Press
