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The chief executive of budget airline Wizz Air UK has advised British travelers heading to Europe to arrive at airports three hours before their return flights. Yvonne Moynihan highlighted that the introduction of new border controls is causing significant delays at passport checks, with some passengers missing return or connecting flights due to long queues. These delays stem primarily from the Entry Exit System (EES), which mandates travelers to provide biometric data, including fingerprint registration, when entering and exiting many European countries.
The EES system, implemented fully across Schengen zone borders from April 10, has reportedly registered nearly 80 million entries and exits since October, during which 35,000 cases resulted in entry refusals. Moynihan noted the impact of these checks varies across Europe. While some airports maintain smooth processing, typical bottlenecks persist in destinations such as Spain, Portugal, and France. On a recent trip to Mallorca, Moynihan experienced no significant delays thanks to increased staffing and the availability of multiple EES kiosks, but she advised passengers in general to prepare for lengthy waits and recommended carrying essentials like portable chargers and water.
Airport trade group ACI Europe recently surveyed 45 airports across 20 EU countries and found that queues caused by the EES system can last up to three and a half hours. Despite some airports suspending EES temporarily to ease congestion, there is concern that delays may worsen during the busy summer travel season. ACI Europe called for solutions to technical problems related to the IT infrastructure supporting EES, as well as improved staffing levels at border checkpoints. The European Commission has pointed out that member states are responsible for properly implementing the system and ensuring sufficient border personnel. For example, Portugal plans to add 360 border officers to its airports in July to address reported long wait times.
Although initial issues and system glitches have been addressed, Wizz Air’s Moynihan believes the surge in summer travelers will further test border controls’ capacity. She has urged more countries to temporarily suspend EES checks during peak periods to alleviate delays. The European Commission confirmed that suspensions are currently permitted at selected border points under exceptional circumstances involving excessive waiting times. Meanwhile, looking ahead to the summer holiday season, Moynihan reassured passengers that despite regional concerns such as Middle Eastern instability potentially affecting jet fuel supplies, Wizz Air expects no cancellations or schedule reductions and encourages travelers to book their trips with confidence
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