Key Takeaways:
- Major European airports are reporting waiting times of up to two hours due to the rollout of the EU's biometric Entry/Exit System (EES).
- Airports in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, and Germany have been forced to partially or fully suspend the new checks to manage queues.
- The situation is expected to worsen significantly as mandatory registration for all non-EU travelers begins on March 31st, with the full transition ending on April 9th.
- Industry groups are urgently calling for extended flexibility to suspend the system during the busy 2026 summer season to prevent travel chaos.
Widespread Delays and Flight Disruptions
Leading aviation organizations, the Airports Council International (ACI Europe) and Airlines for Europe (A4E), have issued a stark warning. Since March 10th, when registering 50% of third-country nationals became mandatory, border crossing delays have seen a "continued deterioration."
Queues are now regularly hitting two hours during peak times, with some airports reporting even longer waits. This is happening despite border authorities already using emergency measures to suspend the new biometric checks.
A survey by ACI Europe confirms the problem is widespread. Airports of all sizes across Europe have been affected, leading to a direct impact on travelers.
"It is clear that the issue is affecting a wide range of airports across Europe and has even led to passengers missing flights," an ACI Europe spokesperson said.
Critical Milestones Loom, Safeguards Set to Expire
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is being introduced gradually across the 29 Schengen countries. It replaces manual passport stamps with digital registration of fingerprints and facial scans for visitors from outside the EU/Schengen area.
The system aims to track entries and exits to enforce the 90/180-day rule. However, its rollout is creating major operational headaches.
Two critical deadlines are now approaching:
- March 31st, 2026: Registration becomes mandatory for 100% of non-EU travelers.
- April 9th, 2026: The official transition period ends.
This second date is particularly concerning for the travel industry. After April 9th, member states will no longer be able to fully suspend the EES system, even during extreme congestion.
This removes a key tool currently used to manage passenger flow during travel peaks like the ongoing Easter holidays.
Root Causes of the Congestion
The aviation groups point to several persistent problems that are compounding delays:
- Staff shortages at border control points.
- Technical and maintenance issues with the new self-service registration kiosks.
- Limited use of automated border control (e-gates).
- Concerns over the reliability of the central EU IT system.
- The lack of a widely available pre-registration app. Currently, only Sweden and Portugal offer an app to submit data before travel.
Calls for Extended Flexibility and Traveler Advice
In response, ACI Europe and A4E are calling on the European Commission and national governments to extend the option to suspend the EES.
They want this flexibility maintained for the entirety of the 2026 summer season and potentially into the winter, to prevent a total collapse during high-traffic periods.
The European Commission has indicated some continued flexibility will be allowed. A spokesperson stated in January that after the rollout, member states could still partially suspend operations for an additional 90 days, with a possible 60-day extension to cover the summer peak.
For now, travelers are advised to plan for significant extra time at the airport. The UK government has already warned its citizens traveling to the Schengen area over Easter to follow operator guidance and allow ample time for the new checks, especially if they have connecting flights.
The coming weeks will be a crucial test for the EU's new border regime, balancing enhanced security with the practical reality of processing millions of travelers smoothly.