Malta International Airport (MIA) is urging passengers travelling to non-Schengen countries over the coming weeks to plan ahead in anticipation of potential disruption caused by the new EU border control system.
"We encourage passengers travelling to non-Schengen countries over the coming weeks, which are expected to be among our busiest this year, to plan ahead and proceed to our border control booths as soon as possible,” an MIA spokesperson tells WhosWho.mt.
Under the EU's new Entry-Exit System (EES), non-EU travellers must have their fingerprints and facial images taken the first time they enter an EU country.
However, its rollout has been marred by technical problems at several European airports, leading to long queues and some travellers even missing flights back home.
In preparation for the peak summer months, the MIA has installed seven temporary immigration booths at both Arrivals and Departures.
The MIA said this additional infrastructure has helped it achieve better efficiency in managing passenger flows.
Indeed, it hasn’t issued any dire public warnings, unlike Rome’s airports, which recently threatened to suspend the system entirely, or the CEO of Berlin Airport, who warned that the situation is "not bearable over the summer”.
However, MIA said that since the system is new and requires more detailed processing of passenger details, longer wait times, particularly during peak hours, are to be expected.
“We continue to work closely with the Malta Police Force, the entity responsible for this process, as well as other stakeholders to monitor passenger flows in real time, anticipate peak periods, and respond swiftly to changing operational demands,” it said.
