Leaders of Europe’s airlines and airport operators are meeting today with leaders of the European Commission as major issues with Europe’s new electronic border system continue to cause intermittent heavy crowding, missed flights and hot tempers.
The industry leaders say that immediate action is needed to prevent continuing operating problems, or worse (from their point of view) loss of business as travelers turn away from flying for fear of the Entry/Exit System’s potential delays. They are asking for “immediate intervention” in the form of either suspending the system altogether until after the busy summer season or at minimum allowing countries and airports “all the flexibility needed” to suspend EES temporarily when passenger volumes or system issues create backups.
The industry representatives include Airports Council International’s European branch, Airlines for Europe and the International Air Transport Association.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen admitted last week that there was “still quite a lot of work to do” to resolve issues, but in general, EU officials have pushed back on calls for a halt, saying that the effect of EES has been minimal in most places, and that airports and their procedures are a limiting factor. Personal experiences reported by TravelGumbo followers have ranged from chaotic and lengthy on the one hand to quick and easy on the other.
Social media and online travel discussion groups are of little use in the process; many posters merely amplify reports they have heard, or ask about conditions at a specific airport, which changes from day to day and hour to hour. The panic evident on some forums is likely part of what is driving concern in the industry.
