The European Union is moving forward with plans to launch its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2024 despite concerns from airlines and travel industry experts about the project’s readiness.
Trouble Ahead for Last-Minute Travelers
The EES will require airlines to confirm passengers’ travel eligibility at least 48 hours before departure by checking their status in the EES database.
Ryanair argued that this policy would preclude the sale of last-minute tickets, an important revenue stream.
“The ‘hard’ 48-hour deadline is too long. This will preclude late ticket sales, which are an extremely important element of Ryanair's (and other airlines’) revenue,” the airline told the UK Parliament’s European Scrutiny Committee.
Ryanair also raised issues with the EES rules for passengers on long-stay visas, saying airlines would have to conduct standard visa checks for them, causing delays.
The airline is concerned about how to handle system outages and board passengers when unable to receive boarding pass messages.
Overall, Ryanair lamented the lack of information and testing opportunities provided so far.
“It is not yet possible to properly test changes to our systems due to delays in providing test environments and many aspects of the system requirements either have not been specified or are simply not clear to us,” the airline stated.
Big Changes for Travelers Under New System
The EES represents the largest-ever change to EU borders.
It will register all entries to and exits from the EU’s Schengen Area in a central database.
The system aims to improve security, prevent illegal migration, and tackle overstays.
Travelers will have to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics on their first EES encounter.
On subsequent visits within three years, only one biometric will need verification, likely the face.
The biometric requirements mean processing times at ports, rail terminals, and airports will increase substantially.
At the UK’s Port of Dover and Eurotunnel border posts, for example, the average car processing time could rise from under 60 seconds currently to five to seven minutes for EES registration.
Eurotunnel has said the EES launch date will be Sunday, October 6, 2024, though EU authorities have not yet confirmed the date.
Concerns About Big Bang Rollout
While the European Commission believes all EU member states will be EES-ready by July 2024, travel industry experts have expressed doubts about imposing the system across all borders simultaneously.
“To us it looks like madness to assume every border post, from Norway and Russia in the Arctic to Bulgaria and Turkey in the south will be ready on a single day. It makes much more sense to test it out one stage at a time,” one senior travel figure told The Independent.
However, Brussels insists on a unified launch to register everyone entering or exiting Europe from day one.
“Member states should be ready by the end of July 2024, after which the exact start date will be published,” a European Commission spokesperson told The Independent, adding, “no ‘soft launch’ is foreseen.”
The Commission boldly claims the EES will “save time” and make EU travel “more efficient.”
However, the new processing burdens cast doubt on those promises for now.
Airlines, travelers, and border staff will face major adaptations when the massive new border system goes live.
New Hurdles Ahead for EU Visitors
The Entry/Exit System will create new hassles for many travelers to Europe, including those needing short-term Schengen visas.
EES is the precursor to the EU’s Electronic Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) set to launch in May 2025.
ETIAS requires citizens of over 60 countries, including the US and UK, to obtain pre-travel authorization before visiting the Schengen Area.
Like the EES, ETIAS aims to boost security and reduce illegal migration.
Therefore, travelers will soon face dual requirements — registering biometric data in EES on each trip and securing prior ETIAS approval.
The added time, cost, and paperwork could deter more casual EU visitors.
Business travelers, students, and those on longer-term Schengen visas may chafe at repeat biometric scans under EES.
The system’s increased border delays could also hamper cross-border commutes or frequent trips.
New Chapter in EU Immigration Policy
The Entry/Exit System represents a new chapter in the EU’s immigration and border security policies.
The EES extends far beyond the Schengen Area’s past focus on short-term visas.
The biometric database will track all entries and exits, including by EU citizens.
This allows much tighter monitoring of visa overstays and illegal stays.
EES data can also be cross-checked against future programs like the ETIAS, helping build a broader EU-wide immigration enforcement system.
Some criticize EES as disproportionate and intrusive.
Its success may inspire Brussels to push for further integration of immigration policies across member states.
However, if the “smart borders” program falters, it could weaken arguments for more EU oversight of the divisive immigration issue.
Big Test Ahead for Europe’s Borders
The launch of the Entry/Exit System represents a major test case for European integration and the EU’s ability to implement continent-wide technology projects.
With airlines sounding alarms about lacking preparation and travel industry experts questioning the “big bang” rollout, many eyes will be on how smoothly the massive new border system actually functions when it goes live.
If EU states can work out the kinks and operate EES efficiently, it could validate Brussels’ vision for broader EU integration and tech modernization.
However, a messy launch could fuel critiques of Brussels overreach and bureaucracy.
Both travelers and government officials will hope the promises of smoother and more secure EU borders prove true once the EES finally takes effect.
For now, uncertainty lingers on exactly how ready Europe is to take this major leap forward together.