At the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, a cautiously optimistic outlook was presented regarding fuel supplies for European aviation. However, a significant caveat remains. Based on current European assessments, there is an expectation that sufficient fuel will be available for the upcoming summer season. Nevertheless, experts emphasize that these forecasts have a limited window of validity, lasting only four to six weeks.
This ensures that the month of July is largely secured. While the outlook beyond six weeks appears stable, it cannot yet be guaranteed. “To ensure continuity, the situation is being constantly monitored, and specific sessions will be held to share the latest updates with the sector,” officials noted.
Queues for Non-Schengen Travelers
A more pressing issue involves waiting times, particularly regarding the implementation of the new Entry/Exit System (EES). Although the outlook for the European summer currently appears stable, industry organizations are urging for better coordination and flexibility. It is important to note that Dutch citizens themselves should not inherently experience issues, as this system is an automated EU IT solution that fundamentally changes how travelers from outside the EU (third-country nationals) pass through the external borders of the Schengen Area, replacing stamps with the recording of biometric data—such as facial scans and fingerprints—in a central database.
However, it cannot be ruled out that Dutch travelers may still face inconvenience. Travelers are already experiencing disruptions caused by the system, even outside of peak season, with several key bottlenecks emerging. The system suffers from periods of downtime, with technology sometimes failing to function correctly for hours at a time, which is considered unacceptable. There is insufficient clarity and growing concern regarding staff deployment and the associated costs of implementation. Although agreements exist regarding flexibility in execution to prevent congestion, these are not always applied adequately in practice.
