Romania and Bulgaria have marked a landmark development as they celebrate the first stages of accession to the Schengen Area with controls at air and sea border lifted. The move to integrate the two Eastern European countries into the Schengen Area by air and sea is a key step forward for improving their connectivity and will level the playing field as travellers will be able to move more freely without undergoing passport of customs checks.
Both Airports Council International (ACI) Europe and the European Travel Commission (ETC) have welcomed the move with Eduardo Santander, ETC Executive Director, saying: “Welcoming Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen Zone by air and sea is key in facilitating seamless travel for locals and tourists alike. This offers a stellar opportunity to develop tourism in these two lesser-known destinations, which will benefit local communities and businesses as well as the wider European tourism ecosystem. We hope that this marks the beginning of a swift journey towards full accession, and that land borders will be lifted soon.”
The EU’s passport-free travel space is one of the most tangible achievements of European integration for its citizens. The Schengen Zone facilitates free movement between 27 countries, including 23 EU Member States. Removing barriers to travel between countries within the zone has created a more seamless travel experience with shorter queues and less administrative burden. This is particularly crucial given the importance of intra-European travel for European airports and destinations.
David Ciceo, President of the Romanian Airport Association and Airports Council International (ACI) Europe Board Member said: “Already in the remaining months of 2024, Romanian airports expect over 14 million passengers to travel within the Schengen Zone, representing some 70% of all passenger traffic. The dynamic growth of air transport in our region means that figure will reach almost 21 million passengers in 2025.”
Airports and air travel will act as key drivers of closer integration between and newly minted Schengen countries and the wider community. Bulgaria and Romani have still considerably lower propensity to fly compared to the EU average pointing to a large untapped potential for air traffic growth. Joining Schengen will give both countries a further boost, while also driving the EU-wide air travel recovery.
