ABTA, the UK’s largest travel association, has called on the European Commission to extend contingency measures that allow member states to pause or scale back the biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) until at least 2027. Speaking at ABTA’s annual convention in Madeira, public-affairs director Luke Petherbridge said the system “cannot roll out fully until it is stable and efficient”, citing summer queues of up to five hours at some airports. EES, already partially live, records fingerprints and facial images of non-EU visitors on first entry. While ABTA’s latest survey found 87 % of UK travellers spent under an hour in EES lines, 6 % said the experience made them less likely to visit the EU. Airlines and airports—including Ryanair and Airports Council International Europe—back the call after at least nine Schengen countries quietly delayed full implementation beyond the September 2026 contingency deadline. For mobility managers, continued uncertainty around EES means potential schedule padding for meetings in mainland Europe, especially during peak periods. Companies should brief travelling employees on the possibility of biometric enrolment, ensure passports have sufficient validity for multiple entries recorded in the system, and monitor individual EU states’ suspension decisions. Longer-term, successful EES deployment will increase data-sharing with the UK’s ETA system, allowing authorities on both sides to pre-screen travellers more aggressively. Businesses dependent on rapid cross-Channel trips—law firms, tech contractors, film crews—should track whether the Commission legislates further flexibilities or enforces penalties for member states that keep suspensions in place.
Source: The Independent
