Airport alert: New EU system causes massive delays

2026-07-12 10:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The new EU control system is causing problems at airports just in time for the holiday season. The consequences are clearly felt: long queues at border controls, delays and passengers missing their flights.

The EU's new border system, the EES - Entry/Exit System, is causing problems at airports. To strengthen controls at external borders, Brussels has introduced a new digital procedure for registering the entries and exits of non-EU citizens. Since it came into full force in April, citizens of non-EU countries must register biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial scans, every time they enter or leave the EU. Airports and airlines are now increasing the pressure on Brussels, precisely because the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing serious problems at border crossings - delays and passengers missing their flights.

The digital procedure aims to replace traditional stamps in passports and increase border security. In practice, however, the system has led to long queues at border controls.

Temporary suspension requested during the holiday season

Airports and airlines warn that the situation could worsen further during the summer season. According to representatives of the aviation industry, at peak times, waits can last for hours. Airlines such as Ryanair criticize the system, arguing that it is not yet prepared for the large influx of passengers. They demand that the implementation of the EES can be temporarily suspended in the event of airport congestion. Meanwhile, the CEO of the airline easyJet has described the long queues at border checkpoints as "completely unacceptable".

While the European Commission continues to defend the security benefits of the system and supports its implementation, there are growing calls for the EES to be temporarily suspended during peak months. Nine European countries are now asking for an extension of the possibility of temporarily lifting checks in the Entry/Exit System (EES). The European Union is not yet ready for the full implementation of the new electronic entry and exit system, they argue. In a joint letter, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland are calling for the emergency measures and the possibility of temporarily suspending checks to continue beyond the current deadline, to avoid chaos at airports and delays for travellers. While they support the aim of the new EES to strengthen border security, the ministers of the respective countries are calling for more flexibility in its implementation./ DW