Rome airports threaten to suspend new EU passport system to avoid summer ‘disaster’

Rome's airports may suspend the European Union's new digital border system for non-EU citizens to prevent travel chaos during the peak summer tourism season. Marco Troncone, CEO of the airports company, stated that allowing passengers to bypass the biometric Entry-Exit System (EES) is the sole method to avert a "disaster." This warning comes amid concerns raised by other European airport officials regarding the system's potential impact on travel times. The EES is designed to register travelers from outside the EU by recording their fingerprints and facial scans, a process that could significantly increase waiting times at border control. Airports are concerned that the current infrastructure and staffing levels are insufficient to handle the projected passenger volume under the new system, potentially leading to extensive delays and cancellations. The proposed suspension would be a temporary measure aimed at mitigating the immediate impact of the summer rush, with further discussions expected on how to implement the EES effectively without disrupting travel.