The EU's new Entry-Exit System (EES) is causing severe operational disruptions at European airports, with passengers facing hours-long queues and missed flights, according to Stefan Schulte, president of ACI Europe and head of the company that owns Frankfurt Airport.
According to a report by the BBC, the EES requires travellers from outside the EU to register biometric information—including facial scans and fingerprints—when entering most European countries, which is then checked on departure. The system was rolled out earlier this year and, while it has worked well in some countries, it has been blamed for significant delays at a number of airports.
Schulte told an industry event in Prague: "Stop pretending that EES is working just fine. It is not." He added: "Passengers are queueing for hours at peak traffic times and I just do not know how we will be able to cope in the coming weeks with the expected increase in traffic."
"We urgently need full flexibility for border control authorities to suspend the EES whenever needed to avoid further chaos – along with a rethink of those processes."
Recent incidents highlight the impact:
| Airport | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Athens International | Dozens of Ryanair passengers left stranded after their flight to London Luton departed without them. Ryanair blamed border delays; the airport cited "additional processing requirements." | Earlier this month |
| Milan Bergamo | Some passengers due to fly to Manchester missed their flights due to passport control problems. | April |
| Milan Linate | Similar passenger delays for Manchester flights. | April |
Wizz Air has already urged British holidaymakers to arrive at European airports three hours before their flight home departs due to queues from the new border checks.
Operational Impact on Logistics Although the story focuses on passenger travel, delays at major hub airports can spill over into air cargo operations. Crew rotations may be disrupted, and business travel for logistics professionals may be affected. Shippers and freight forwarders using belly-hold capacity on passenger flights should anticipate potential schedule changes or cargo delays. The extended wait times for passenger processing could also strain airport resources, diverting attention from cargo handling.
Policy Uncertainty Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni had promised British passengers would not face biometric checks this summer, but the Greek Foreign Ministry later disputed that any exemption exists. Reports that Portugal and Italy were considering exemptions for British nationals were contradicted by the European Commission, which said no such plans are in place, according to the BBC.
Watch List
- Summer traffic surge: Schulte warned of increasing traffic in the coming weeks, which could exacerbate delays.
- Potential suspensions: Calls for flexibility to suspend EES may lead to temporary national exemptions, creating a patchwork of rules.
- EU response: The European Commission has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded as of the BBC's report.
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