The chief executive officer of easyJet has criticized the EU’s recent border system, causing numerous British travelers to miss their flights due to extended border wait times.
In reference to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), easyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis expressed to ITV News on Thursday, “The situation is completely unacceptable. They have had sufficient time since 2017 [the initiation of Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU] to prepare for this scenario, and their performance has been inadequate.”
The digital system, initially set to begin operating in October last year, only became fully functional on April 10. This system alters the requirements for UK travelers heading to Schengen area countries, potentially necessitating British passport holders to provide biometric data – such as fingerprints and facial images – at airport kiosks upon arrival. No prior registration is necessary, and no fees are applicable.
Nonetheless, the UK Government cautioned that the new checks might take longer than the previous system, which involved manually stamping passports for non-EU arrivals.
Jarvis suggested a more flexible implementation of the new system, proposing, “It should be executed during off-peak times at airports, when there are fewer incoming flights. If it’s a Saturday before a bank holiday or school break, then a more sensible approach should be adopted,” during the interview.
He noted that issues have been gradually improving since the system’s initial introduction.
In April, approximately 100 easyJet passengers were stranded in Milan due to border delays. Jarvis defended the decision to leave passengers behind, stating, “Our flight crews have regulated flying hours, and if delays become excessive, the crew may exceed their duty hours, preventing them from completing the flight. In such cases, we have no alternative.”
An easyJet spokesperson mentioned at that time, “We are aware that some passengers departing from Milan Linate experienced longer than usual waiting times at passport control, and we advised departing customers to allocate additional time for airport procedures.”
The spokesperson further added, “We have taken all feasible measures to minimize the impact of airport queues, including holding flights for passengers needing extra time and providing complimentary flight transfers for those who missed their flights, including EJU5420 to Manchester.”
The plea was made for border authorities to maximize the permitted flexibilities during the implementation of the European Entry/Exit System to avert these unacceptable border delays, with easyJet expressing regret for any inconvenience caused, although the situation is beyond their control.
Additional information on the EU’s Entry/Exit System is accessible on the UK Government’s official website.
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