Airlines ask EU to suspend new biometric border checks during summer

Airline and airport industry groups have asked the European Commission to permit temporary suspension of the new EU biometric border system during the peak summer travel months. The groups said some flights are leaving half full because passengers face waits of up to five hours at border control.

They warned that the situation could worsen as passenger numbers rise. In a letter to the commission president, the groups requested authority to halt checks whenever passenger volumes exceed border facility capacity during July and August.

Current system and rollout issues The biometric system, introduced gradually since last October, requires non-EU citizens to provide fingerprints and a photograph upon arrival. Several member states have already paused or limited its use ahead of summer.

Greece suspended checks for British travelers until September. French police temporarily halted extra checks at Dover in May. The head of Rome's airports stated last week that the system would need to be suspended for non-EU citizens to avoid major disruption.

Capacity concerns European airports expect to handle about 40 million more passengers in July and August than in the prior two months. The groups said border authorities, airports, and airlines are under unsustainable pressure and need flexibility until staffing and automated kiosks can handle the volume.

They also asked for the option to continue limited suspensions after September under clearly defined exceptional circumstances.