The EU's new Entry Exit System (EES) could be suspended at two Italian airports to help cope with summer tourist numbers.
The EES was first introduced in October last year, before the rollout ramped up on April 10.
The new system requires British travellers and other non-EU visitors to provide biometric data, including fingerprints and facial scans, when entering the Schengen Area.
The new EES has received significant backlash since its introduction, with it causing long waits for passengers at airports.
Brits have been warned of six-hour waits at several major European airports, with these long waits expected to continue for another two years, according to industry experts.
CEO of Ryanair’s Malta subsidiary, Malta Air, David O’Brien, even threatened to pull all flights to Malta due to the extended wait times caused by the EES at airports.
The 2 European airports set to scrap EES this summer to avoid "disaster"
European countries are also unhappy with the new Entry Exit System.
Greece temporarily suspended the rollout of the EES back in April, while Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said he is "unhappy" and could suspend the system if delays continued.
The EES could now also be suspended at Rome's Fiumicino and Ciampino Airports this summer, according to Aeroporti di Roma chief executive, Marco Troncone.
Mr Troncone said the airports could be forced to suspend the EU's controversial new biometric border system to cope with summer tourist numbers and avoid a “disaster” in peak travel season.
Speaking to the Financial Times, he said: "We are very worried for the summer.
“The process proves to be incompatible with the peak volumes that we are going to face.
"So the only way is to open up the valve. There is no way that we can deliver 100 per cent of the enrolment."
On a scale of one to 10, Mr Troncone said his concern surrounding the EES this summer is currently “eight or nine”.
Automated EES booths at airports not working
Airports have also raised concerns that automated EES booths do not always work, the Financial Times reported.
This means passengers who have already passed through EES and are supposed to skip the queues are often forced to carry out checks again, adding to congestion.
Head of the airports industry group ACI Europe, Olivier Jankovec, said: "The processes need to work better."
“We need the self-service tills to work, and at the moment they don’t work."
More than 30,000 people denied entry to Europe due to EES
Meanwhile, more than 30,000 people have been denied entry into Europe since the rollout of the new EES, according to the latest data from the European Commission (acquired by the Majorca Daily Bulletin).
Of those denied entry, nearly 7,000 had previously overstayed in the Schengen Area, and around 800 were considered security threats.
More than 66 million entries and exits have been logged through the new system so far, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported.
Who can be denied entry to Europe?
Under the Schengen Borders Code (SBC), guards can deny travellers from outside the EU entry to the area if they fail to meet the entry conditions under Regulation (EU) 2016/399, ETIAS.com explains.
RECOMMENDED READING:
-
British tourists warned of £2,100 fine for wearing flip‑flops at this holiday hotspot
-
Major UK airline to cut flights to 3 destinations from next month - are you affected?
-
Brits travelling to Spain warned of new rule change that could see them denied entry
Refusals typically relate to:
- Missing or invalid travel documents
- Insufficient financial means
- No proof of accommodation or purpose of stay
- Security and public order concerns
Health or public safety issues
Have you used the EU's new Entry Exit system yet? Let us know about your experience in the poll above or in the comments below.
Share