“Dozens” of airports across Europe are reportedly “unprepared” for new post-Brexit fingerprinting rules due to be implemented on October 6.
The Telegraph reported that senior industry figures have “expressed alarm” that many smaller airports across the EU have so far failed to install fingerprint technology that is set to be activated in October.
Under the European Entry-Exit System (EES), British nationals travelling to the EU will have to have their biometric data taken when crossing the border for the first time.
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The Telegraph said: “British tourists often land in regional airports in holiday destinations across the continent that can be relatively empty much of the year. Airline bosses fear many of these smaller airports have not prepared for the new rules.”
The newspaper said the situation threatened “chaos” for British tourists unless the timeline is delayed.
For passengers at Dover, and on outbound Eurostar trains and Eurotunnel vehicle shuttles, pre-departure biometric checks will be done by French police stationed in the UK.
Tim Reardon, Dover’s head of EU exit, told the newspaper he does not expect to get confirmation of the timetable for EES until mid-August.
“It doesn’t give us much time for hiring, but then we don’t want to commit funding and find that the whole thing is delayed for a year,” he said.
Dover is creating a registration zone where cars will queue before their booked sailing. Photos and fingerprints will be captured using a tablet device.
For people flying to the EU, biometric checks will be made on landing.
Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s regional head for Europe, said last month: “The industry is concerned there are critical unresolved items which will require urgent and coordinated action from both the EU and member states prior to its implementation.”
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