EU BORDER SYSTEM TRIPLES PASSPORT CHECKS FOR BRITISH TRAVELLERS

Post-Brexit EU border checks, known as the Entry-Exit System (EES), have nearly tripled passport control waiting times for British travellers at some European airports. Ivan Bassato, chief aviation officer at Rome's Fiumicino airport, reported that processing times for British passengers have increased from seven to twenty minutes. Wizz Air UK advised British passengers to arrive three hours before their flights from European airports due to anticipated long queues caused by the new system. Bassato stated that certain aspects of the EES require urgent attention, though he noted that some improvements have resulted from self-service biometric kiosks.

France's Ministry of the Interior offered a contrasting assessment of the system's performance. According to the ministry, the EES has processed over 110 million entries and exits since implementation. The ministry reported that the system has prevented over 44,000 entry refusals and stated that it has not caused major congestion at French transport hubs. The divergence in reported experiences suggests that the impact of the new border system varies significantly across European airports.

The EES requires biometric data collection, including fingerprints and facial scans, from travellers entering the EU. The system represents a significant change to border procedures for British nationals following the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union. Ongoing reports of queuing difficulties at certain airports indicate that airport operators and airlines continue to assess how to manage passenger flows under the new arrangements.