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Australians hoping to swap chilly weather for sunny European holidays might need to brace for extended wait times at some airports, according to recent government advice.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smartraveller service has cautioned that travelers bound for Europe could encounter delays ranging from four to six hours. These setbacks are linked to the European Union’s new digital Entry/Exit System (EES).
The EES, a freshly implemented digital identity system for non-EU citizens, facilitates travel within the Schengen area. This zone comprises 29 European countries with shared border regulations, allowing visitors to move freely without the need for individual visas.
Fully operational since the end of April, the EES requires travelers to register biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints, which has contributed to the delays at participating airports.
The Smartraveller alert highlights that these delays have led to missed flights, advising travelers to factor in extra time when planning their itineraries.
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“Queues to access EES self-service kiosks are long. Be prepared to stand for an extended time. Take food and water if needed,” the alert reads.
“If you have mobility or health concerns that limit how long you can stand, talk to airport support staff.”
The EES is only available for short stays. Travellers who enter or exit a border for the first time will be expected to have their fingerprints and photo taken, while answering questions from the customs officials.
British travellers were warned to arrive three hours early for flights home as they encounter the new system as well.
The UK boss of budget airline Wizz Air, Yvonne Moynihan, told the BBC the impact of the new checks was “fragmented across Europe” and there had been long queues at “usual hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, France”.
A European Commission spokesperson told the BBC the EES was working well at “almost all border crossing points”.
Last year, Australians spent an estimated $280 million on European summer holidays.
And while Foreign Minister Penny Wong earlier in the year warned Australians to “think very carefully about their travel plans” amid war in the Middle East leading to major hubs shutting down, demand for European flights has remained strong.
Dean Long, CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association, said that Europe is “absolutely still on the table for Australians.”
“The pathway might look different for some at the moment due to the restricted Middle East traffic, but there are reliable, well-serviced routings through Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo,” he told SBS News last month.
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