EU’s new EES branded a ‘muddle’ Ian Taylor


The EU launches its long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) on Sunday, with prior warning to UK travellers left to the UK government and trade, and a senior industry figure declaring it “a complete muddle”. The system, which requires


visa-exempt non-EU visitors to register biometric face and fingerprint data on their first entry, will be launched over 180 days, with at least 10% of border crossings requiring registration from day one. However, there is no information on where the system will apply. Tom Jenkins, chief executive


of European travel association Etoa, said: “We’re not getting any


information at all. All they [the EC and EU member states] are saying is it will be rolled out from October 12 – it’s not remotely clear who will be doing it.” He suggested: “It’s a complete


muddle. They can’t have a partial system, which is what they’re trying to do – to start enrolment, to get the electronic record up even if it’s not a proper record. So, they’re going to register people as well as stamping their passport.” Jenkins argued: “They have to


get it working in order to launch the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias).” Eurostar has announced its


EES plans, saying it “will introduce entry checks for some travellers departing from London St Pancras”,


Extended federal shutdown set to impact US travel


Ian Taylor


The US government shut down from October 1 after Republican and Democrat leaders failed to agree a federal budget, with up to 750,000 federal workers laid off. Only ‘essential’ employees


continue to work without pay, including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff. However, these workers increasingly began to call in sick during the last shutdown in 2018-19, which lasted 35 days.


6 9 OCTOBER 2025 That shutdown ended after


absentee air traffic controllers grounded flights in New York and caused delays across US airspace. USAirtours chief executive Guy


Novik reported “no issues so far” at the start of this week, with no calls from clients wishing to postpone travel. But he said: “We’ve beefed up resources on our out-of-hours team because we anticipate getting calls. “Longer queues at immigration


could mean people missing flights.” Novik noted there is “probably a lack of awareness of the implications”


of the shutdown. But he said the operator is not cautioning customers, arguing: “There is no point creating concern when it will have no impact on some travellers.” The US Department of


Transportation reported a rise in air traffic controllers reporting sick this week and said air traffic would be slowed, affecting airline schedules. Most federal attractions, including


museums, are closed, along with national parks unless they have access to alternative funding. Travel Weekly USreported some federal-funded


All they are saying is it will be rolled out from October 12 – it’s not remotely clear who will be doing it


but Jenkins said: “Elsewhere, there is no way of knowing.” Yet he noted the system can


be switched off temporarily if it causes delays, saying: “If it all goes haywire, they can revert to inspecting passports. I don’t think it will be catastrophic because of that, it will just be tiresome.” Jenkins added: “They’re


launching it in the low season and have enormous systems set


up in places where large numbers of British people arrive. My impression is it will mean no more than you’re required to do when you enter the US.” Speaking at the Travel


Convention in Majorca on Tuesday, Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said “I reckon there will be delays”, adding: “Journalists probably already have written their copy [on this].” Advantage Travel Partnership


chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said it was “disappointing that Eurostar will require travellers to provide extensive documentation and introduce more unnecessary complexity to travel”, adding: “We encourage travellers to allocate


additional time for security.” i EES overview, back page


US domestic flights and visitor attractions are expected to be affected by the US government shutdown


attractions and national parks remain open due to donations. The Trump administration is funding New York’s Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The Great Smoky Mountains


National Park in Tennessee resumed operations at the weekend thanks to local funding. Visitor centres at Utah’s five


national parks remained open, funded by the governor’s office, as did Colorado’s national parks until previously collected fees run out. The Smithsonian museums had funds to remain open for a week.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Angel DeBilio


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