A number of influential air industry groups have written a joint letter to EU bosses over the havoc caused by border checks this summer.
Many of our business travel clients endured long delays during journeys around Europe, as queues at passport control and immigration grew ever longer while July and August dragged on.
New EU checks were introduced prior to the busy period beginning and many experts have criticised how they were rolled out.
IATA, Airlines for Europe (A4E), Airlines Council International and the European Regional Airlines Assocation (ERA) told EU bosses that the adapted procedures have led to ‘significant’ delays occurring frequently for their customers.
The joint letter to the EU states: “With the traffic increase due to the holiday season and in the absence of appropriate measures put in place by member states, the implementation of enhanced border controls for EU citizens has caused havoc at a number of EU hub airports.”
They asked EU’s Council of Ministers to invest extra resources to help reduce the effect of their changes. It has been suggested that extra manpower will help to minimise disruptions and cut queues.
The groups have estimated that approximately 319 million passengers each year will be affected by the new border controls. At least half of these will be travelling through Europe.
Meanwhile, British Airways has criticised the UK’s Border Force for the “serious inefficiencies” they claim caused substantial delays in UK airports. Despite the long lines, officials say two thirds of gates were often closed in Heathrow’s Terminal 5, while those that were open often shut early at 11pm.
Raghbir Pattar, BA’s director of Heathrow, said: “More focus must be put on operating in the most efficient and flexible way and ensuring that passengers needs are put first.
“It is a constant frustration to us and to our customers that after a long flight they have to stand in queues, sometimes for over an hour, just to get back into the country.”