Aviation bodies urge reform of EU border system as queues stretch to five hours
Two European aviation associations say border waits hit five hours under the EU's new entry-exit system and have proposed a six-point reform plan for the European Commission and member states.
Aviation associations in Europe want changes to the European Union's new entry and exit system. They report border waits of up to five hours at some crossings. ACI Europe and Airlines for Europe, known as A4E, say such queues have occurred repeatedly over the last six months, and that waits at border checks have regularly exceeded two hours since the system was fully introduced.
The two bodies blame structural problems: a shortage of staff at border authorities, unstable IT systems, too few self-service terminals and automated border checks, and limitations on the Travel to Europe pre-registration app.
Their six-point plan calls for an end to duplicate checks, simpler biometric controls, the avoidance of duplicated data records and an expansion of automated border control. Biometric registration could be suspended temporarily when waiting times become unusually long.
ACI Europe and A4E are asking the European Commission and member states to implement the changes quickly.
Sources
- aerotelegraph.comBis zu fünf Stunden Wartezeit: Luftfahrtverbände fordern Reform des EU-Einreisesystems EES