Alexander Zinell, chief executive of Fraport Greece which operates 14 airports, has criticized the European Union’s entry-exit system (EES) as requiring fundamental reforms. The system, which became operational last October, mandates that non-EU travelers provide fingerprints and photographs upon arrival and verification upon each departure or re-entry to the Schengen zone.
Zinell’s airports have struggled with the implementation, necessitating the installation of gazebos to protect passengers queuing in outdoor lines during processing. Vulnerable travelers have been expedited through security checkpoints for safety reasons. The executive characterized conditions as “very unpleasant for passengers, and even dangerous.” Greek authorities have indicated they will not conduct EES checks on UK visitors, despite the absence of a formal legal exemption from biometric testing requirements. UK tourists represent a significant portion of non-EU visitors at Zinell’s facilities, which include airports serving Corfu, Rhodes, Mykonos and Crete.
Border police currently have discretionary authority under EU regulations to suspend checks during peak periods, though this allowance is scheduled to expire in September. Zinell stated that this temporary flexibility represents the sole measure preventing system failure. He advocated for fundamental restructuring rather than incremental adjustments, proposing that passengers be permitted to complete biometric registration prior to traveling to airports.
The International Air Transport Association has separately requested that controls be suspended until next summer due to concerns about disruptions at major holiday destinations. Multiple airlines have reported passenger delays and missed connections across Portugal, Spain, Italy and Belgium, with specific warnings of extended queues at airports including Alicante, Málaga and Palma. British ferry operators have also raised concerns about potential disruptions at Dover, where checkpoint delays during earlier holidays exceeded four hours. EU officials have acknowledged the system requires improvements but have declined to authorize temporary suspensions, noting that difficulties are concentrated at approximately 20 of 1,500 border crossing points.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI