Australians visiting Europe this summer have been warned to pack food and water to prepare for six-hour queues in airports.
The EU’s new biometric border security system, the entry-exit system (EES), has caused significant delays and missed flight connections across the continent since its full rollout in April.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said on its website: “Queues to access EES self-service kiosks are long. Be prepared to stand for an extended time.
“Take food and water if needed. If you have mobility or health concerns that limit how long you can stand, talk to airport support staff.”
Under EES, individuals from non-EU countries, such as the UK and Australia, must have their fingerprints registered and a photograph taken upon entry to 29 countries in the Schengen area.
DFAT added: “The EES is currently causing delays of up to four to six hours in some European airports. Travellers have missed flights as a result. Take delays into account when booking your travel.”
Australian travellers are also urged to allow extra time between connecting flights, choose flexible flight options and arrive well before their flight is due to leave.
Several airport bosses have recently called on the EU to allow airports to suspend the EES during upcoming traffic peaks in July and August.
Director General of ACI Europe, Olivier Jankovec, said all major airports in Europe expecting high tourist flows “risk disaster” due to the biometric system introduced by Brussels “running slowly”.
Stefan Schulte, president of ACI Europe, added: “Passengers are queuing for hours at peak traffic times, and I just do not know how we will be able to cope in the coming weeks with the expected increase in traffic.
“EU Home Affairs Commissioner Brunner and Home Affairs Ministers must stop pretending the situation is manageable and that the EES is working just fine. It is not.”
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