Irish holidaymakers facing delays at European airports due to security changes
Thousands of Irish holiday makers are facing the prospect of long delays at European airports due to changes to security measures across the continent.
Although the new measures came in earlier this year after terror attacks in Paris and Brussels, the impact is now being felt due to the high volume of passengers travelling during the summer.
The rule changes mean passports from non-Schengen countries, including Ireland and the United Kingdom, have to be run through large databases to alert border control authorities to a possible threat.
In the past, travellers from Ireland were often waved through when at passport control in other European countries, however, delays of up to four hours have been reported in recent weeks.
The European Commission has been quick to defend the changes, with spokeswoman Mina Andreeva saying: “More checks can lead to more delays and that is the price of security.”
She continued: “We understand that there are concerns about EU rules leading to longer waiting periods, but let us be very clear – this is about the security of our citizens.
“All EU member states wanted to have the current rules. We cannot have on the one hand, a joint request from member states to have more checks and controls, to increase security, and at the same time have complaints about longer waiting periods.”
Speaking yesterday, Thomas Reynaert, Managing Director of A4E, which represents airline carriers including Ryanair, said delays had increased at some airports by up to 300%.
Mr Reynaert said: “Especially during the peak season of the year, travellers face long lines and can’t get on their flights.
“Queuing for up to four hours has been the top record these days; airports like Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Lisbon, Lyon, Paris-Orly, Milan or Brussels are producing shameful pictures of devastated passengers in front of immigration booths, in lines stretching hundreds of metres.
“At some airports, flight delays have increased by 300% compared to last year – member states must take the responsibility for this.”
