From July 1, 2021, the digital EU certificates for those who have been tested, recovered and vaccinated will go "live" in the Union area and make entry easier. The centerpiece is the QR code, which ideally should be placed on the scanner by the passengers themselves after arrival. Should, because behind the scenes there is chaos.

The core problem lies in the fact that the “Green Pass” does not lead to uniform entry regulations within the European Union, but rather the members continue to cook their own soup. The most recent example of this is that Germany has classified Portugal as a virus variant area since Tuesday. This leads to quarantine - also for Green Pass holders.

Checks are still carried out manually at almost all airports in Europe. At Vienna Airport, for example, soldiers from the Federal Army sift through the travelers' documents on behalf of the Bruck an der Leitha District Authority. In Luqa, employees of the Ministry of Health check the Covid documents after formal entry. In both cases, there are already long queues that are getting longer and longer. The industry expects that there could be long waiting times at some airports.

The solution to the problem is seen in the fact that the passengers should scan the QR codes independently at barriers that are comparable to self-boarding gates. If everything fits, the barrier opens and, if not, manual follow-up checks can be carried out by staff. This would accelerate the processes in a practical way. Only a few airports have prepared for it, because money is also at stake: Who pays for the technology? The respective airport or the respective authority that carries out these controls?

Accordingly, it is not surprising that the airport association ACI and the airline association IATA were in a joint letter before a great chaos when entering Europe's airports. At the same time, they demand that the QR codes and, if necessary, the contact details be checked before departure and then transmitted electronically to the respective health authorities. There is also renewed appeal that uniform entry regulations be created.