Alexander Zinell, chief executive of Fraport Greece which operates 14 airports, has become the latest critic to call for significant reforms to the EU’s entry-exit system for non-Schengen travelers. The system, implemented last October, requires fingerprint and photo collection from non-EU visitors upon arrival, with verification required each time they enter or leave the Schengen zone.
Zinell reported that his airports have been forced to install gazebos to provide shade for passengers waiting in long queues for biometric processing, while prioritizing vulnerable travelers through security channels for safety reasons. He characterized the situation as “very unpleasant for passengers, and even dangerous.” UK visitors represent a substantial portion of non-EU tourists at his airports, which include major destinations such as Corfu, Rhodes, Mykonos and Crete, though Greek authorities have signaled they will not check UK passengers despite the absence of a formal legal exemption.
According to Zinell, the only factor preventing system failure is the flexibility granted to border police to suspend checks during peak periods—a provision set to expire in September. He emphasized that temporary solutions are insufficient and called for fundamental changes, including allowing passengers to complete registration before arriving at airports rather than during the border process.
The challenges extend beyond Greece. The International Air Transport Association has requested suspension of controls until the following summer due to concerns about holiday season disruptions. Airlines including Ryanair have warned of significant queue problems at popular destinations across multiple countries, with delays and missed connections reported in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Belgium. UK ferry operators have expressed concern about similar complications at Dover, where the port experienced four-and-a-half-hour delays during an earlier holiday period and anticipates substantially higher traffic volumes during school holidays.
EU authorities have acknowledged the system is “not perfect” but have declined calls for temporary suspension, suggesting instead that member states address congestion at the approximately 20 identified problem locations among 1,500 total border crossing points.
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