Arriving travellers had to wait longer in line at passport control at Brussels Airport on Thursday morning. This was confirmed by Quentin Mertens, a spokesperson for Zaventem Airport. Around 09:00, the waiting time rose to 60 to 70 minutes.
According to Mertens, there is a staff shortage at the federal police. In addition, the spokesperson points to the impact of the new European system of electronic border controls, EES.
Last weekend, the federal government decided to postpone the collection of biometric data—fingerprints and a facial scan—under the EES because its implementation led to "unacceptable" queues.
Travellers who do not have a European nationality must, however, still register digitally.
Brussels Airport is facing a busy period with the start of the Easter holidays in Flemish education.
The airport is expecting more than 1.25 million passengers between this Friday and Sunday, 19 April.
