European airports and airlines have called on the European Commission to urgently intervene in the launch of the new Entry/Exit System (EES). In an open letter, ACI EUROPE, Airlines for Europe, and IATA stated that the system’s implementation has reached a “critical point” and is already causing serious disruptions at airports.
The EES is a new digital system for controlling the Schengen Area’s external borders for citizens of non-EU countries. It replaces passport stamps and records entry, exit, or refusal of entry. When crossing the border, the system collects passport data, a facial photo, fingerprints, and the date and location of the border crossing. The system became fully operational on April 10, 2026, following a phased rollout that began in October 2025.
The problem is that, in practice, biometric registration takes longer than expected. According to ACI EUROPE, A4E, and IATA, since the full launch of the EES, wait times at border control during peak periods have already reached five hours. This leads to flight delays, missed connections, strain on staff, and situations where passengers are stranded at the border while planes depart without being fully occupied.
Industry organizations warn that the situation could worsen in July and August: European airports are expecting approximately 40 million more passengers than in the previous two months. The risk applies not only to the largest hubs but also to smaller airports in popular tourist destinations, where border infrastructure is physically unable to handle the flow of passengers.
The aviation industry is asking the European Commission to allow Schengen Area countries to fully or partially suspend the EES in July and August if passenger traffic exceeds border control capacity. Starting in September, it is proposed to establish a permanent flexibility mechanism to temporarily disable the EES in exceptional situations and revert to standard checks in accordance with the Schengen Code, including passport stamps.
Airports and airlines are not calling for the abolition of border controls. They recognize the importance of the EES for security but believe the system must operate without disrupting transportation logistics or the tourist season. Among the unresolved issues, they cite a shortage of border guards, instability of the IT platform, the unreadiness of self-service kiosks and ABC gates, as well as the poor performance of the pre-registration app.
The EES was intended to make EU borders more digital and secure, but in the summer of 2026, it became an additional source of delays. If the European Commission does not grant airports greater flexibility, the tourist season could face long lines, missed flights, and a reputational blow to European tourism.
