European airports and airlines sounded the alarm again on Wednesday, warning that the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) could trigger serious traffic disruptions this summer unless the rollout is revised immediately.
In a joint statement, ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that without swift measures to add flexibility, peak‑season travel could see queues lasting four hours or more.
The three bodies said they have written to EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner, highlighting already‑observed wait times of up to two hours under the current EES deployment.
The EES is designed to replace manual passport stamps, recording travelers' biometric data, entry and exit dates, and monitoring overstays or entry refusals.
According to the letter, chronic understaffing at border checks and unresolved automation glitches are key problems that could exacerbate delays.
They urged the European Commission to confirm that Schengen member states may partially or fully suspend the EES until the end of October 2026 if necessary.
Implementation of the system began on 12 October at land and sea borders as well as airports. Currently, only 35 % of third‑country visitors are recorded, a figure that must reach 100 % by 10 April, just before the high‑tourism season.