The EU set a 10 April deadline for its Entry-Exit System to be active at every Schengen border crossing point in all 29 participating countries, requiring fingerprints and photos alongside a passport scan. It has been undergoing a phased rollout since October last year.

According to the EU, the new system will improve security and ultimately make the travel experience smoother. However, there have already been long delays reported at some European airports, with agents and industry leaders warning this is only likely to worsen during busy holiday periods.

It comes as Spanish air traffic controllers threaten a period of indefinite strike action, starting next weekend, which could affect operations at more than a dozen airports, including many in the Canary Islands.

'Magic number'

Suzanne Cumpston, Sam Smith Travel sales and commercial manager, told TTG she had a personal experience of the impact of the EES rollout on journey times during a recent visit to Sweden. “I had one hell of a wait, which I wasn’t expecting as I'm used to the airport, which is very lovely and organised,” she said.

“For a considerably short queue of people, we were waiting at least an hour and a half. But then, I went to Malaga and it was a breeze. My clients are saying the same thing – it's a mixed bag, with different airports and different times delivering different results.”

Nicholas Lee, managing director of Broadland Travel Worldchoice, revealed one of his agency's clients was forced to complete the new border checks twice – once for her first visit to the EU in recent months, and then again on a second trip to Malta.

Lee said the agency had, of late, had “issues with people getting through passport control” in the Canary Islands. Broadland’s local airport, Norwich, serves Tenerife, where some clients have reported wait times of about 90 minutes.

“They [the EU] must have hit the magic number of people they wanted registered, though, as they said they wanted to do that before rolling out,” he said, adding: “The upcoming [Spanish] strikes will surely add to the hassle."

'Mixed picture'

Scott James, manager of The Travel Store, was another to highlight challenges in the Canaries, telling TTG: “Most of the feedback we have had from clients [on EES] has been from Tenerife and Gran Canaria. I think this has been led by winter sun, so we may be in for more distribution as the Mediterranean opens up."

Ben Langsdale, director of Travel Without Limits, said: “My clients who have travelled to Europe have mentioned some delays but nothing like the three-hour horror stories I’ve heard elsewhere."

Langsdale added: “My own experience of EES was actually a couple of weeks ago travelling to Amsterdam via ferry, and that was an absolute breeze because there are so few people compared with a busy airport, so it was all done within about 10 minutes.”

(Credit: Ben Langsdale)

Last month, Abta said the Easter period would likely be the first real test of EES. It has also previously called on EU border authorities to make better use of the contingency measures available to smooth the rollout.

Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, on Friday (10 April) said: "The rollout of EES is continuing to present a mixed picture for travellers. While some journeys are smooth, others involve longer waiting times and uncertainty at the border, particularly during busy periods.

“Member states do have access to a range of permitted provisions intended to help manage passenger flows and minimise disruption at the borders. However, the industry is increasingly concerned that these measures are not being applied consistently in practice, which can add pressure on operations.”

Call for clarity

Tanzer also made a “critical” plea for clarity and consistency around the rollout. “Abta understands manual passport stamping will continue at the UK’s juxtaposed border in the coming weeks,” he said.

“It is therefore critical there is greater clarity and consistency in how the system is implemented, alongside appropriate staffing and planning, particularly as we approach the peak summer travel period. We continue to share feedback from our members with the European Commission and national authorities.”

Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said went so far as to suggest a “third way”. “There are clearly still significant issues being faced at check points for travellers across the EU which have been causing long delays ever since it was first introduced,” she said.

“While we understand the importance of modernising border processes, a smooth rollout must be prioritised in order to avoid major travel chaos at peak periods. With very high demand for travel over the upcoming summer holiday period, we are deeply concerned about the impact delays could have at a time when it is vital we maintain high consumer confidence within a travel sector facing global uncertainty and rising costs."

(Credit: Advantage Travel Partnership)

Lo Bue-Said continued: “Due to ongoing IT issues, we have already seen the Eurotunnel, Eurostar and Port of Dover all announce they will miss the EES deadline and travellers will not be required to submit their biometrics until a later date. We think other major transport hubs should not be required to enforce EES if it will be the cause of considerable disruption for travellers.

“We have recommended proactively introducing a flexible suspension option during peak travel months to help manage operational pressures and ensure a smoother experience for travellers. This would allow authorities to properly assess operational pressures, ensure consistent readiness across member states, and increase staffing at key border points before scaling up further.

"We're calling for clear communication to travellers and a coordinated strategy to ease pressure on the busiest entry points."

Problem solving

Agents conclude the best they could do at present was prep clients extensively. “I do think it’s going to cause some problems when summer comes around, especially with the extra people who would’ve gone to the UAE choosing Europe this year,” said Langsdale.

“But there’s nothing we can do about it so it’s just a case of making clients aware of what to expect and ensuring that any pre-booked transfers are factoring in the additional time.”

Cumpston added: “I think we'll just have to see how it goes, and how airports overseas adapt to high footfall. Communication is key, because while some of our clients will know about this – I mean, it's headline news – some of them won't."

Sam Smith Travel is encouraging more senior and less able clients to opt for additional assistance in the airport, as an extra precaution. “That way, they can be fast tracked or at least be seated rather than standing, in the event of massive queues,” said Cumpston.