Greek authorities are adopting a flexible approach to the European Union's new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) following reports of missed flights and border congestion.
The Hellenic Police announced on April 20 that it has begun full deployment of the EES but will use all necessary measures to manage traffic at border crossings according to regulations, according to go.theregister.com.
This move follows recent disruptions where British travelers missed flights due to system-related delays. The UK government updated its travel advice on April 20, stating that Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect biometric data, such as fingerprints and photos, for UK travelers as part of the EES.
Border delays impact European airlines
Since the EES became compulsory on April 10, several incidents of mass delays have been recorded. The outlet reported that approximately 100 passengers on an Easyjet flight from Milan Linate to Manchester missed their flight on April 12, with additional delays affecting Ryanair passengers traveling from Milan Bergamo to Manchester on April 16.
Easyjet released a statement addressing the disruptions. "The issues some passengers have experienced are unacceptable and so we continue to urge border authorities to ensure they make full and effective use of the permitted flexibilities for as long as needed, so our customers' travel plans are not impacted," the airline said.
Industry groups ACI Europe and Airlines for Europe, representing major carriers like British Airways and Ryanair, noted that passengers have faced wait times of two to three hours.
"Border control authorities must be allowed to fully suspend the EES when waiting times become excessive," the heads of the two organizations stated. They emphasized that such flexibility is essential for the upcoming peak summer travel season.
While the EES went live in October last year, its full implementation has caused significant queues at various European hubs, including Prague's international airport. Although the European Commission does not expect permanent exemptions for specific countries, regulations allow for the temporary suspension of biometric collection at specific locations.
