The chief executive of Fraport Greece, Alexander Zinell, has issued a stark warning to UK tourists heading to four Greek airports this summer, describing the European Union's new Exit/Entry System (EES) as 'unpleasant' and 'dangerous' and demanding urgent changes.
EES System Deemed 'Fundamentally Flawed'
Zinell, whose company operates 14 regional airports in Greece, told the Financial Times that the biometric system has 'fundamental flaws.' Airports have had to resort to using gazebos to shield passengers from the sun while they wait to be processed, highlighting the system's inadequate infrastructure.
'It is very unpleasant for passengers, and even dangerous,' Zinell said. The warning specifically applies to four popular tourist destinations: Corfu, Rhodes, Mykonos, and Crete.
Temporary Fixes and Call for Overhaul
Zinell emphasized that current measures are merely temporary fixes. 'These are just temporary fixes, the system needs to be overhauled,' he stated. 'It needs a new version, an update, and probably a reconfiguration in order to allow people to register before they fly, before they get on a plane, before they go to the airport.'
The EES requires non-EU passengers, including UK tourists, to register fingerprints and facial images upon first entry into the Schengen zone, with biometric verification required each time they leave and re-enter.
Wider Impact Across Europe
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) reported last week that passengers in Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Belgium are experiencing 'delays and missed connections' due to the EES. Ryanair has also warned of 'queue chaos' at airports in popular holiday destinations such as Alicante, Málaga, and Palma.
Under current regulations, airports and ports can temporarily suspend the EES if queues become unmanageable, but that opt-out is due to end in September. So far, 'no member states have requested' a suspension beyond September, according to EU officials.
Entry Refusals and Security Concerns
EU officials revealed that the biggest reason for refused entry under the EES is 'no appropriate justification of visit or stay.' Statistics show that more than 1,000 people were stopped at the border because they were 'considered a threat to internal security.'
EU officials stress that it is impossible to have the system open in some countries and not in others, as it would lead to the 'unfortunate situation of travellers stranded at border crossings.' The call for a system overhaul comes as UK tourists prepare for peak summer travel to Greece.
