Europe’s aviation sector warns EES has reached a ‘critical point’

Europe’s airports and airlines have issued an urgent appeal to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, warning that the rollout of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) has reached a “critical point” and is causing severe disruption for millions of travellers during the peak summer season.

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In an open letter published on 1 July, aviation organisations ACI EUROPE, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged Brussels to allow Member States to temporarily suspend the digital border system whenever passenger volumes exceed operational capacity.

“Today we have reached a critical point,” the organisations wrote. “The current implementation of the EES is creating severe operational consequences disrupting passengers and putting border authorities, airports and airlines under unsustainable pressure.

“We therefore urge your immediate intervention before the situation deteriorates further during the peak summer travel season.”

The EES became fully operational across the Schengen area in April 2026, replacing passport stamping for most non-EU travellers with a digital system that records entries and exits alongside biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images.

The system is designed to strengthen border security, identify visa overstayers and streamline external border management.

However, the aviation industry says the rollout is having the opposite effect at many airports.

According to the letter, waiting times at border control are now reaching “up to five hours during peak traffic periods”, resulting in missed flight connections, delayed departures and mounting pressure on frontline airport staff.

The groups warned that smaller airports serving popular holiday destinations are also struggling, with passengers queuing outside terminals because border facilities cannot process arrivals quickly enough.

“Airlines face half-empty planes at gate closing time, while passengers are stuck in border control queues,” the letter states.

The industry acknowledged that Member States have already been permitted to temporarily suspend biometric collection until early September, but argued that this flexibility has failed to prevent excessive queues or operational disruption.

With European airports expected to handle around 40 million more passengers during July and August than in the previous two months, the organisations warned that conditions could deteriorate rapidly without further action.

In the letter, they “respectfully urge” the European Commission to “act now” and take the following actions “without delay”:

• Immediately provide Member States with all the flexibility needed to completely suspend EES, preventively whenever passenger volumes exceed the operational capacity of border control facilities, at least throughout July and August.
• In close cooperation with Member States and industry, establish by September a permanent operational flexibility mechanism allowing Border Control Authorities to suspend EES procedures under clearly defined exceptional circumstances in order to ensure efficient and passenger-focused border management.

The reputation of the EU and the confidence in the regulatory framework “are also at stake”, said the letter. Europe must remain a destination that is “not only secure but also efficient, welcoming and competitive”.

Warning that some international visitors are “reconsidering trips” to Europe because of the “prospect of excessive border delays”, this is “undermining Europe’s reputation, European tourism and connectivity, in particular”.

WTTC calls for coordinated action

In response to the open letter by ACI Europe, A4E and IATA, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is calling for “coordinated action” to safeguard the implementation of EES without disrupting travel.

While recognising the importance of modernising border systems and strengthening security across Europe, WTTC has consistently warned that without adequate flexibility, reliable equipment, sufficient staffing and traveller communication, “operational bottlenecks risk undermining the visitor experience and Europe’s global competitiveness as a destination”.

If the issues are not addressed, Europe could be at a “clear disadvantage”, the WTTC said, compared to other global destinations offering faster, more seamless entry processes.

Recent WTTC analysis indicates that consistent border waits of three or more hours could “significantly deter demand”, with around one-third of travellers saying they would be less likely to visit the Schengen area. Applied to 2026 forecasts, this could place up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in potential visitor spending in Europe at risk.

“EES represents an important step towards smarter, more secure borders for Europe,” said Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC. “But implementation must be practical, coordinated and traveller focused. If lengthy delays become accepted practice, travellers will look elsewhere.

“Europe cannot afford to compromise its competitiveness or the experience it offers millions of visitors. We encourage policymakers to work closely with industry to ensure the system delivers on its promise of better borders without creating unintended barriers to travel.”