Prague Airport and the Czech Ministry of the Interior are preparing additional measures to reduce waiting times for passengers arriving from non-Schengen countries following the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).

The new system has made border checks more complex, particularly for travellers from outside the EU. Prague Airport says it has already introduced several measures aimed at keeping passenger flows moving during busy periods.

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Airport staff, known as the Red Team, are assisting passengers in the terminal, directing them through the new procedures and providing information where needed. The airport has also adjusted passenger flow corridors based on data collected since the system was introduced.

One of the main issues identified so far is the self-service registration process. According to the airport, a significant number of passengers do not complete their registration at the kiosks, which can lead to additional delays at passport control.

Prague Airport is therefore examining the entire journey from the registration kiosks to passport control and looking at ways to make the process easier, particularly for families and older passengers.

“Data has shown us that the most common delays occur when people interrupt the registration process at the terminals,” said Radomír Lašák, Chairman of the Board of Prague Airport. “Together with the Police of the Czech Republic, we are not merely putting together temporary stopgaps but are redesigning the entire process so that it remains resilient even during peak periods.”

Further measures are also being prepared at the European level, including the possibility of allowing passengers to complete parts of the EES registration before departure. Airlines could also provide passengers with information about the process during flights.

The Czech Ministry of the Interior and the Immigration Police are working with Prague Airport on the next steps and have committed additional resources to help manage the new system.

Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar said the authorities’ priority was to maintain security standards while limiting the impact of the new procedures on passengers.

The airport said it will continue monitoring passenger flows and adjusting its procedures based on actual operations, particularly during peak travel periods.

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