British business and leisure travellers flying from the United Kingdom into the Schengen Area are reporting that passport-control queues have lengthened dramatically since the European Union activated its biometric Entry/Exit System (EES). The system—fully switched on at most major EU hubs earlier this month—requires every non-EU national to register fingerprints and a facial image on first arrival and to undergo a digital exit check when leaving. On 21 July several UK passengers told travel media that waits at Rome-Fiumicino, Madrid-Barajas and Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle stretched well beyond an hour, with some missing onward connections. Ryanair publicly described the launch as a “failed rollout”, urging customers to build in extra connection time. EU airport operators concede that the average processing time per UK national has jumped from seven minutes to around twenty, and that the self-service kiosks intended to speed flows are still prone to software glitches. For corporates the immediate impact is uncertainty around tight same-day itineraries. Mobility managers are advising assignees to avoid late-afternoon departures, allow at least two hours between flights and keep critical meetings virtual until the system beds down. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its advice pages to warn that “EES may take each passenger extra time to complete, so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.” In the medium term, the EES should eliminate passport stamping and allow Schengen states to spot overstays automatically—something compliance teams will welcome. However, until biometric kiosks are reliable and staffing levels improve, mobility programmes face higher duty-of-care obligations and potential cost in re-booking missed connections. Companies with frequent-traveller populations should review traveller-tracking data and consider amending policy to reimburse additional lounge or accommodation charges caused by EES delays. Airlines and airports have asked the European Commission to permit flexible implementation through the busy summer, but Brussels so far insists no general suspension is planned. UK officials say they are “engaging closely with French authorities at juxtaposed controls” (Dover, Eurotunnel and St Pancras) to minimise disruption for outbound coach and rail passengers, though processing at those sites is also expected to slow once full biometric capture is introduced later this year.
Source: Female First
