African travellers entering Europe could encounter longer queues and more consistent biometric processing after temporary flexibility surrounding the continent’s digital border system expired on 6 September.
The Guardian reported that airlines had unsuccessfully asked the European Commission to extend powers allowing border authorities to suspend some Entry/Exit System checks when congestion became severe.
The aviation industry said earlier delays had caused some travellers to miss flights and connections.
The expiry does not mean that identical checks will immediately be enforced at every European border. Some countries are reportedly still experiencing technical problems, while authorities may continue to manage queues differently at individual airports.
The development nevertheless matters to African tourists, students, business travellers and people visiting relatives because the EES applies to short-stay visitors who are not citizens of the European Union.
