Airlines and airports are urging the EU to suspend its new biometric border check system during the peak summer holiday season. They report that some flights are departing half-empty, and passengers are stuck in queues lasting up to five hours.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, airlines and airports requested the option to pause checks under the system, fearing the situation will worsen during the busy summer months.
“We’ve reached a critical point,” said industry groups ACI Europe (representing airports), Airlines 4 Europe, and the International Air Transport Association (representing airlines). “Passengers are already being forced to wait for long periods outside terminal buildings and on exposed aprons because border control facilities can’t process arrivals quickly enough.”
“Airlines are seeing half-empty planes at gate closing time, while passengers are stuck in border control queues.”
Some flights have had to delay takeoff while waiting for passengers, with queues reportedly reaching up to five hours at peak times. Others have had to leave passengers behind.
The groups called on the commission to allow airports to “completely suspend” checks “whenever passenger volumes exceed the operational capacity of border control facilities” during July and August.
They said border authorities, airports, and airlines are under “unsustainable pressure” and called for “immediate intervention before the situation gets worse during the peak summer travel season.”
The system, gradually introduced since last October, requires non-EU citizens to register their fingerprints and have a photo taken at their destination airport. But its rollout has faced major issues. Greece has suspended biometric checks for British travelers until September to avoid summer disruption. In May, French police temporarily stopped the extra checks at the port of Dover, and last week, the head of Rome’s airports said the system would need to be suspended for non-EU citizens to prevent a summer disaster.
“Some international travelers are reconsidering trips to Europe because of the risk of long border delays,” the industry groups said. “This is damaging Europe’s reputation, especially its tourism and connectivity. The reputation of the European Union and trust in its regulatory framework are at stake.”
The letter noted that even though rules allow countries some flexibility to skip certain checks, “excessive queues” are still forming.
The groups also said there should be flexibility to continue suspending checks from September, when the rules allowing some flexibility to skip checks are set to be phased out “under clearly defined exceptional circumstances.”
European airports are expected to handle about 40 million more passengers in July and August than in the previous two months, the groups said.
“The commission and member states must recognize the reality of the current situation and what our air transport system will face in the coming weeks,” the letter warned.
The groups said the ability to suspend the new border checks is needed until there are enough staff to make the system work and automated kiosks are sufficiently reliable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about airlines flying halfempty planes and calls to pause the new EU border system during the holiday season
General Questions
Q Why are airlines flying planes that are halfempty
A Its often cheaper for airlines to fly a nearly empty plane than to cancel the flight Canceling can disrupt crew schedules lose future bookings and cost money in passenger rebooking or compensation They also need to keep their airport slots by using them
Q What is the new EU border system everyone is talking about
A Its the EntryExit System Its a new computerized system that will require nonEU travelers to register their fingerprint and photo when entering the Schengen Area replacing the old passport stamping
Q Why do people want to pause the new border system during the holidays
A Because its brand new and likely to cause big delays Airports and border guards need time to learn it Adding this on top of the busiest travel season could create huge lines and chaos at passport control
Practical ProblemSolving Questions
Q Will my holiday flight be canceled if the plane is halfempty
A Probably not Airlines usually cancel flights weeks in advance if they know its not profitable A halfempty plane on the day of travel is more likely to still fly However check your airlines schedule for lastminute changes
Q If the EU border system starts how long will I wait in line at the airport
A Its hard to say but experts predict much longer waitspotentially 30 minutes to several hours at busy airports like Heathrow Amsterdam or Paris especially during peak holiday times
Q Can I do anything to speed up the new border process
A Not yet The system is automatic once you arrive But you can help by having your passport ready removing any phone cases or wallets from your hands and making sure your passport is in good condition
Advanced Policy Questions
Q Doesnt flying halfempty planes hurt the environment
