The umbrella group for specialist operators and agents has added its voice to industry concerns over travel logjams when the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is introduced.
Specialist travel association Aito welcomed clarity over the target introduction date of November 10 but “also recognises the challenges that travellers – and the travel industry – will face during the various implementation phases”.
But the organisation said: “Whilst EES will no doubt improve the customer experience in the longer term through automation, Aito is concerned that UK travellers going overseas could, at least initially, be faced with significant delays.
“It is evident that many border controls are simply not ready for the new processes and, with customer awareness of the scheme currently extremely low, long queues, along with some unavoidable chaos and confusion, are unfortunately likely.”
Aito is working with government and industry groups to prepare UK travellers for the changes, “to clarify any potential pinch points and to ensure that all necessary contingency plans are ready to be put into action speedily if required”.
It called on border control forces to take full advantage of precautionary measures available and “simply relax checks where waiting times are excessive”.
Aito also supports a government call to extend the transition period by a further six months, into the peak summer 2025 holiday period, when the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) will also come into effect, “causing further potential disruption”.
Head of industry affairs Christina Brazier said: “Aito specialist tour operators and Aito specialist travel agents will be supporting their customers during the implementation of both EES and Etias.
“We are jointly hosting a webinar with the FCDO [Foreign Office] to brief members on the changes and to give them the opportunity to share any concerns.
“Interestingly, Aito and its members will then be some of the first travellers to experience the new Entry/Exit Scheme, when we travel to Spain for Aito’s annual overseas conference, being held in the former capital city, Valladolid, from November 21-24.”
Under the EES, all passengers without EU passports will be required to have their fingerprints registered and their pictures taken on arrival.
The new system will add two to three minutes processing time per passenger, up from the present 45 seconds.