Aviation industry groups have formally requested the European Commission to temporarily suspend the new EU biometric border check system during the peak summer holiday season, warning that passengers are facing queues of up to five hours.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, ACI Europe, Airlines 4 Europe, and the International Air Transport Association said the situation has reached a critical point.
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“Passengers have already been forced to queue for extended periods outside terminal buildings and on exposed aprons because border control facilities cannot process arrivals quickly enough,” the groups stated.
The delays are directly impacting flight schedules, forcing airlines to make difficult operational decisions at departure gates.
“Airlines face half-empty planes at gate closing time, while passengers are stuck in border control queues,” the letter added.
Multiple flights have experienced delayed takeoffs to accommodate late passengers, while other aircraft have departed without stranded travelers.
Airport authorities are under unsustainable pressure ahead of an expected influx of 40 million additional passengers.
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“Some international travellers are reconsidering trips to Europe because of the prospect of excessive border delays,” the groups warned.
“This is undermining Europe’s reputation, European tourism and connectivity.”
Request for Flexibility Beyond Summer
The letter also requested that flexibility to bypass the checks remain an option from September onward under specific exceptional circumstances, as current rules allowing temporary exemptions are scheduled to be phased out.
“The commission and the member states must take stock of the reality of the current situation and of what our air transport system will face over the coming weeks,” the letter warned.
The biometric registry system requires non-EU citizens to submit fingerprints and facial photographs upon arrival.
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It has faced localized rollbacks, including Greek authorities suspending checks for British travelers until September, French police temporarily halting extra checks in Dover last May, and Rome's airport management warning of similar suspensions to prevent operational failure.
