British holidaymakers flying home from Europe must now arrive at airports three hours before their flight. This is according to Yvonne Moynihan, the UK boss of budget airline Wizz Air. She issued the warning due to long queues caused by new European Union border checks. These delays are making passengers miss their return or connecting flights.
The new checks are part of the Entry Exit System (EES). This system requires travellers from outside the EU to register fingerprints and facial scans. These biometric details are then checked when they leave. Since October, nearly 80 million entries and exits have been recorded. The EES is meant to be fully operational at Schengen Area borders by April 10. This includes major airports.
The impact of these new checks varies across Europe. Some travel has been seamless. However, Moynihan noted long queues at usual busy spots like Spain, Portugal, and France. She experienced no queues on a recent trip to Mallorca. This was thanks to extra staff and many EES kiosks. Still, her airline advises passengers to expect long waits. They suggest bringing a portable charger or water for expected delays.
The risk of queues before flights back to the UK is significant. This is because travellers undergo another passport check. Moynihan stated this creates longer waiting times. The usual advice is to arrive two hours before a flight. Now, Wizz Air recommends three hours. For those with connecting flights, she advises allowing several extra hours between flights. This accounts for potential border queue delays. Border officials have been suspending EES checks when waits become too long.
The European Commission states EES is not the only cause of delays. They claim registering biometric data usually takes about one minute. However, ACI Europe, a trade body for airports, surveyed 45 airports in 20 EU countries. Their findings suggest EES is causing queues of up to three and a half hours. More airports report excessive waiting times. This happens even with the partial suspension of EES. The situation is expected to worsen as passenger numbers rise for the summer peak. ACI Europe wants technical issues and border staffing levels addressed.
The Commission maintains member states must ensure proper EES implementation. They need to provide enough border guards. Portugal plans to add 360 more border officers to its airports in July. Wizz Air's Moynihan acknowledged improvements since initial problems. However, she believes the higher summer travel numbers will test the system. She called for more countries to suspend checks during this peak period. The European Commission is allowing biometric registration suspension until September. This applies to specific border crossing points under exceptional circumstances leading to excessive delays.
Speculation exists about potential jet fuel shortages and flight cancellations this summer. This is partly due to the situation in the Middle East. Like other airlines, Wizz Air has seen a trend of late bookings. They offer affordable prices to stimulate demand. Moynihan assured passengers they can book with confidence. She echoed reassurance from other short-haul airline bosses. Wizz Air's suppliers have adapted. No shortages or schedule cuts are expected. Fares may rise if oil prices remain high. Moynihan indicated airlines can save costs elsewhere in the short term.