Aviation groups have warned that airline passengers could face longer queues at EU airports in the coming months, due to the imminent end of the transition period for the new Entry-Exit System (EES).
Airport association ACI Europe and Airlines for Europe (A4E) have issued a joint statement reiterating the need for more flexibility in the imposition of the EES biometric system after the rollout deadline of 10 April passes. The associations raised similar concerns in February about “severe disruption” for airline passengers this year.
EES was launched in a phased approach in October 2025 and the EU has promised to give the 29 participating Schengen countries “certain flexibilities” to avoid excessive queues this summer.
ACI Europe and A4E said it has already seen a “continued deterioration in waiting times” at European airports since the mandatory requirement that at least 50 per cent of arriving passengers from “third countries”, such as the UK and US, are registered through EES came into force on 10 March. From Tuesday (31 March), the EU will require that all third-country nationals pass through EES.
“Waiting times are now regularly reaching up to two hours at peak traffic times, with some airports reporting even longer queues,” added the associations.
“This comes despite the continued use by border control authorities of both the partial and full suspension of EES processes at most airports during travel peaks – measures which have proven essential to mitigating queuing times and maintaining operational continuity.”
ACI Europe and A4E warned that the “situation risks deteriorating further” from 10 April due to EU countries no longer being able to fully suspend EES at peak travel times.
“Passengers entering the Schengen area are likely to wait even longer at border control during Easter due to the persisting operational challenges around the EES rollout,” said Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe, and Ourania Georgoutsakou, A4E’s managing director.
“We reiterate our call on the European Commission and member states to extend the possibility to fully or partially suspend EES – where operationally necessary – during the entirety of the 2026 summer season.”
The commission has said that it is providing flexibilities for member states after the 10 April deadline. This includes a “partial” suspension of EES when necessary for another 90 days and a “possible 60-day extension” to cover the summer peak period.
The EU has also created an app to allow passengers to pre-register for EES, but this has so far only been utilised in Sweden and Portugal.
A commission spokesperson told BTN Europe: “The commission is aware of the concerns expressed by the aviation industry. The commission has been engaging constructively with the industry, and a meeting took place in February to exchange further in view of the full implementation of the Entry-Exit System.
“With the system operating well, it takes only 70 seconds to register an entry or exit. All member states had declared their readiness ahead of its progressive launch. This was a legal precondition for setting the launch date of the EES. The majority of the member states are already registering over 75 per cent of border crossings.
“Despite the agreed timeline, a few member states are encountering technical difficulties. The commission is in close contact with these member states and also sharing best practices from member states where the system is working well.”
The spokesperson said that there were “fall-back solutions” that countries could use when necessary.
“Border fluidity should also be ensured by the member states by providing enough resources and personnel at heavy-traffic border crossing points,” added the spokesperson.
