This draft law is likely to annoy many travellers: the EU Commission is planning to introduce comprehensive ID checks on domestic flights and in the Schengen area.
Currently, checking in and boarding for domestic flights and flights within the Schengen area is usually quite quick. But that could soon be over. The EU could soon introduce nationwide ID checks. This emerges from a draft law by the EU Commission, as reported by “Spiegel”.
Accordingly, the airlines should collect API data, i.e. information on identity, from all passengers. This regulation would then also apply to domestic flights or travel within the Schengen area.
FDP politician: Then everyone has to go to the check-in counter
The data collection should be taken over by the airlines and their employees, not by border officials. However, this could still delay processing.
First criticism comes from the FDP. MEP Jan-Christoph Oetjen feared that the regulation would cause additional work for travelers. Because he thinks it is unlikely that the check will only take place at the gate. “If there were still problems there, that would lead to many delays, and passengers might even have to be denied boarding,” he told Der Spiegel. Instead, it could result in all passengers – whether with or without checked baggage – having to go to the check-in counter to show their ID.
