Interior minister: Airport queues 'damaging to Brussels and Belgium’s image'
Interior minister Bernard Quintin has condemned the long passport control queues at Brussels Airport, calling the situation unacceptable and urging the federal police to take swift action.
“Zaventem is an international showcase for our country,” said Quintin after a visit to the airport. “Two-hour queues or longer are not only frustrating for travellers, they also damage the image of Brussels and Belgium. This must be addressed.”
He is primarily placing responsibility on the airport police, who are part of the federal force, to take immediate action. He expects to see a marked improvement before the busy summer holiday season begins.
Border control
Quintin had previously signed a royal decree permitting Frontex officers, who are responsible for guarding the EU’s external borders, to be deployed at the airport. His office also suggests that scheduling intercontinental flights more evenly could ease the strain on border control during peak hours.
Long queues are a long-standing issue, with both the police and airport officials citing chronic understaffing as the cause.
"We need 28 officers for the morning shift. Getting to 20 is a success," officers told De Standaard. Staff are now so stretched that border checks are diverting resources away from other key duties, such as tackling undocumented migration and drug trafficking.
The federal police say they are working on a summer plan, which will see officers who don’t usually perform border checks assisting with staffing control points. This is intended to improve management of peak periods when multiple non-Schengen flights land simultaneously.
A customs officer carries out a passport control at Brussels Airport, 2022 © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE
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