- Abta has urged the European Union to extend contingency measures for its biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) into 2027 to avoid further travel disruption.
- The UK travel association stated that the system should not be fully rolled out until stability and efficiency issues are resolved, following severe summer airport queues.
- An Abta survey revealed that while 87 per cent of travellers spent under an hour in EES lines, six per cent felt the process made them much less likely to visit the EU.
- Abta director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge called for app enhancements and better pre-arrival triaging alongside the retention of flexible border check rules.
- Industry peers including Ryanair and Airports Council International have also backed extending contingency rules after summer wait times peaked at up to five hours.
IN FULL
