Delays continue to impact UAE travellers plans for Europe ahead of peak holiday season
There needs to be a faster resolution to the Schengen visa delays affecting UAE residents that’s according to a top official with a leading German carrier.
“For Dubai, for example, the Schengen visa issues remain a restricting factor,” said Jens Bischof, CEO of Eurowings, the budget carrier owned by Lufthansa Group. “We’d love to see more throughput in visa applications and approvals.”
In the last 2-3 years, UAE residents have made up a sizeable part of visitors to the EU countries, but the processing of visas has been a constant bottleneck. Efforts to better streamline these operations for UAE travelers to the EU and reduce the time taken for visa renewals continue to be made. But the decisive breakthrough is yet to materialize.
Currently, there are no appointments available for Schengen visas for over 2 months, according to local travel industry sources.
On what could be done to resolve these delays, Bischof said, “We’re aware of the restrictions on the governmental side, with budget limitations affecting the region. However, we’re working closely with the region’s consulates, ambassadors, and visa departments to increase the throughput.
“It is in our own interest, and we’re committed to making progress.”
Eurowings launched operations out of Dubai World Central (DWC) – also known as Maktoum International Airport – in 2023. The airline has doubled its frequencies from Germany amid growing demand.
