Chaos at Prague Airport's Biometric System Debut
Prague Airport's biometric system debut was marred by chaos and non-functioning kiosks, despite being one of the few EU nations to implement full border checks on day one.
Czechia, along with Estonia and Luxembourg, implemented the new Schengen area Entry-Exit system (EES) on October 1, which requires the collection of fingerprints and facial biometrics from travelers from non-EU countries.
The EES replaces passport stamping for non-EU visitors with a digital system that records fingerprints, facial images, travel documents, and entry and exit dates at every crossing.
- Travelers faced waits of up to 90 minutes at Prague Airport on Sunday due to significant technical problems.
- The European Union's new biometric border system experienced issues on its first day of operation, according to British news outlet The Independent.
Author's summary: Technical issues mar Prague Airport's biometric system launch.