Travel industry leaders welcome e-gates agreement in UK-EU deal

Abta and the Advantage Travel Partnership have welcomed the UK’s deal struck with the EU after confirmation that it includes an agreement that UK travellers will be able to use e-gates at passport control in EU airports.

 

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the agreement over e-gates would end the “huge queues” that have been faced since Brexit, and called on EU members to introduce the new policy “without delay”.

 

The deal, unveiled in London today (Monday, May 19), followed the first summit between the UK and the EU, with Starmer hailing the result as a “good deal for both sides”.

 

Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “The agreements around e-gates and pet passports will make it easier for travellers, cutting down on queues and pre-holiday admin.”

 

Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership, said the deal marked a “major improvement for UK travellers”.

 

She added: “The tedious wait in border control lines since Brexit has long been a source of irritation for many Brits traveling to the EU. Widening the availability of e-gates across Europe will indeed be most welcome.

 

“As we approach a busy time of year, this enhanced system should give both holidaymakers and business travellers the opportunity to benefit from a significantly faster, more convenient airport experience, helping them start their travels promptly without the usual holdups.”

 

Starmer said: “Today’s deal will help British holidaymakers as we’re confirming they will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues when they go through passport control. I call on all EU members to help make this a reality without delay.”

 

The prime minister unveiled the deal alongside European Council president António Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

 

Agreements were struck across a range of areas, including defence, food, energy, fishing, steel and migration, with Starmer saying the key principles running throughout were “bills, jobs and borders”.

 

The UK and the EU have agreed to work on a “youth experience scheme”, Starmer said, which will enable young people to “travel and work freely in Europe”.

 

“I’m clear this will come with all the appropriate time limits, caps and visa requirements,” he added.

 

Tanzer said: “Abta strongly welcomes the announcement that the UK and EU are to work on a youth experience scheme, which will be similar to those in place with other countries around the world. The reopening of opportunities for young Brits to work within the EU would be great news for individuals and the UK’s outbound travel industry.

 

“We’ve long argued that an agreement between the UK and EU would be mutually beneficial – and that these deals are not akin to freedom of movement in any way.

 

“We urge policymakers on both sides to get an agreement in place as quickly as possible.”

 

He added: “A big headache travel companies have faced has been the ability to employ UK staff in EU countries to do holiday jobs, such as chalet hosts and tour reps.

 

“It has brought a huge amount of red tape and cost, and some businesses have had to change how they offer holidays because they can’t get the right staff. UK national workers in EU-based travel roles have declined by 69% over recent years.”

 

Reacting to the deal, British Travel Association chief executive Clive Wratten said: “This is a positive step for UK business travellers who now have access to more European passport e-gates, which should improve the efficiency of airports and reduce lost time for those travelling for work purposes who often have a conference, project or meeting to get to.

 

“Time is money and the cost of waiting in long queues is significant for UK businesses. The concern will be if EU countries will follow suit, as it will be up to individual countries how and when to grant the access.

 

“The youth mobility scheme is another great development, providing young people with the chance to experience business abroad.

 

“It’s important the younger generation joining the workforce and coming up the ranks learn about different working cultures and the value of in-person relationship-building.

 

“Finally, strengthening trade ties and reducing red tape with the EU will be a real boost for UK businesses and cross-border collaboration.”

 

Lauren Broughton, head of public affairs at UKinbound, said: “The inclusion of a new reciprocal EU/UK youth experience scheme is a very welcome step forward that will benefit generations of young British and European citizens.

 

“Cultural exchange is a fantastic way for young British people to experience life in another country, develop life-long affiliations, learn a new language and develop a new skill that will benefit them throughout their career.

 

“With their much-needed foreign language skills, young Europeans would provide a boost to businesses in the UK’s inbound tourism industry, which would deliver valuable economic growth across the whole of the country.

 

“However, the devil is in the details, but we look forward to working with the government to ensure that this decision works to promote opportunity and drive growth.”

 

Neil Swanson, Tui UK and Ireland managing director, said: "I’m thrilled that British holidaymakers will have access to more e-gates across Europe, making travel smoother and reducing arrival queues. Ideally this would be in place before the peak summer season and for the launch of the EU Entry/Exit scheme this autumn at the latest."