European airports are deactivating the EES system to avoid endless queues at security checks
Some major airports suspend use of the system when queues become too long
The endless queues at security checks are prompting major European airports to deactivate the Entry/Exit System (EES) when delays caused by the arrival of large numbers of travellers become too long. This, explains Politico, is the solution airports are turning to in order to deal with the disruption caused by a system that is giving rise to considerable controversy.
The disruptions
According to numerous airports and airlines, the EES is slowing down passenger flow at airports and causing long queues, particularly during the summer months when travel volumes peak. Consequently, many major European hubs disable it to avoid causing excessive disruption to passenger flow.
This is the case with Air France-KLM – one of the world’s leading airlines – which told Politico that ‘when queues form during the peak summer months, the system is deactivated to ensure smooth transit through our hubs in Paris and Amsterdam’. The same applies at other airports, such as Frankfurt, Brussels and Milan.
This is a solution provided for under EU legislation. The Commission has granted a suspension of the recording of biometric data until 6 September in the event of ‘exceptional’ circumstances.
However, nine countries, including Italy, are already calling for the derogation to be extended beyond the set deadline. In a letter to the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Magnus Brunner, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Switzerland have reaffirmed their ‘unreserved commitment’ to the full implementation of the system, but have also emphasised that ‘experience to date has shown that significant difficulties may arise in exceptional circumstances and that these risks must not be underestimated’.
