"I Won't Go to Europe Again": New EU Entry System Sparks Travel Chaos

The European Union's newly implemented Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing widespread disruption, leading to massive queues at airports and causing travelers to miss their flights. Airport operators and airline companies are warning that the infrastructure is not yet ready for full-scale operation.

Introduced in April, the EES requires travelers from non-EU countries to register their biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial images, upon entry. However, the system has struggled in practice, resulting in significant bottlenecks at border control points.

Aletta von Massenbach, head of Berlin Airport, reported that passengers are facing wait times of up to two hours to clear passport control. She noted that the lack of uniformity in sub-systems used by different EU member states is complicating the process and hindering smooth transit.

Meanwhile, at the Port of Dover, a new processing zone equipped with 84 kiosks for fingerprinting and photography remains unused because the equipment—managed by French authorities - is currently non-functional. The airport trade body ACI Europe has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, warning that peak-time waiting periods could stretch to five hours as the busy summer season approaches.

The technical failures are beginning to deter tourists from visiting the continent. Anne Robinson, a British traveler, shared her experience of missing a flight home from Rome after EES machines malfunctioned, leaving her to face significant additional costs and stress. Robinson stated that the ordeal has discouraged her from planning future trips to Europe.

In response, a European Commission spokesperson stated that "every effort is being made to limit the impact" on travelers. However, Steve Heapy, CEO of the budget airline Jet2, has urged authorities to suspend EES checks in areas where the system is not yet operational to alleviate the strain on holidaymakers.

Experts remain concerned that without immediate technical improvements, the situation could deteriorate further as the holiday season hits its peak.