Aviation industry leaders are urging the European Union to halt its new biometric border check system temporarily during the peak summer travel season, citing significant disruptions caused by long queues and delays. The call comes as some passengers face waits of up to five hours at border controls, leading to flights departing with empty seats because travelers are stuck in lines. In several instances, airlines have delayed takeoffs to accommodate passengers delayed by the checks.
Since its phased introduction in October, the biometric system mandates non-EU travelers to provide fingerprints and facial images upon entering the bloc. However, the rollout has encountered operational difficulties at airports and border authorities. As a result, industry representatives are appealing to the European Commission for a temporary suspension of the checks in July and August, especially when passenger numbers exceed the capacity of border control facilities.
Implementation hiccups have already been reported in several countries, with some locations opting to reduce or pause biometric checks to avert severe disruptions during the busy travel period. The groups warn that if these delays persist, they could harm Europe’s tourism sector and tarnish its international travel reputation, particularly as airports gear up to handle millions more passengers during the summer months.
To ensure the biometric checks can be executed smoothly without causing major disruptions, industry representatives emphasize the need for increased staffing, advanced technology, and reliable automated systems. They are advocating for these measures to be in place before the biometric system is fully operational, to minimize inconvenience to travelers and maintain the efficiency of border controls.