Travelers from the UK planning a summer trip to Europe have received a stern travel advisory from an airport executive following the European Union’s introduction of a new border control system.
The Entry/Exit System (EES), enforced on October 12 last year, mandates that British citizens visiting the Schengen area must provide biometric data such as fingerprints and a photo upon entry, causing long queues at airports in the region due to system glitches.
A top official at a prominent EU airport situated in a highly frequented European city highlighted that the new system has significantly prolonged the processing time for UK travelers passing through passport control.
Ivan Bassato, the Chief Aviation Officer at Fiumicino airport in Rome, informed the BBC that a large number of passengers are utilizing self-service kiosks worth €12 million (£10.2 million). Despite recent enhancements with e-gates, British nationals are experiencing extended border crossing times compared to pre-EES implementation.
Bassato noted a surge in average processing time from seven to 20 minutes, emphasizing that the current system falls short of the previous standard. He emphasized the urgency of rectifying certain aspects to minimize wait times, expressing dissatisfaction with delays lasting up to two hours.
Previously, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) cautioned UK visitors entering the Schengen area to anticipate delays during the EES transition, especially on their initial trip.
The government’s guidance outlined that first-time Schengen visitors might undergo digital registration, including fingerprinting and photography upon arrival, leading to slightly prolonged processing times during peak periods. Travelers to Rome encountered significant delays lasting hours.
Sharing his experience with the BBC, a traveler named Carl, who traveled to Rome with his family, expressed surprise at the extensive entry process, enduring a two-hour wait from disembarking to clearing immigration with children. Another visitor from outside the EU detailed a lengthy non-EU immigration queue upon arrival at Fiumicino airport.
Make Daily Mirror your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for immediate access to your preferred news.
