Airlines and airports have warned that the Schengen Entry/Exit System is causing “massive delays and inconvenience”, with the potential for queues to reach four hours or more during the peak summer season.
In a letter to Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, ACI EUROPE, A4E, and IATA warn that waiting times have already reached two hours under current registration mandates.
The industry groups blame chronic understaffing at border control, unresolved technology issues regarding automation, and limited uptake of the Frontex pre-registration app as critical factors compounding the delays. They are urging the European Commission to ensure member states can suspend the system until October 2026 to avoid severe disruptions in July and August.
The letter, signed by Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E and Thomas Reynaert, SVP External Affairs of IATA, says: “There is a complete disconnect between the perception of the EU institutions that EES is working well, and the reality, which is that non‑EU travellers are experiencing massive delays and inconvenience. This must come to an end immediately.
“We need to be realistic about what will happen during the peak summer months, when traffic at Europe’s airports doubles. The rollout of EES must be flexible to react to operational realities. This is an absolute prerequisite for its success – and for safeguarding the reputation of the EU as an efficient, welcoming and desirable destination.”
Image: Rob Munro
Europe’s airports welcomed an additional 100 million passengers in 2025, reaching a new record of 2.6 billion travellers.
