EU Border Checks Trigger Widespread Airport Delays Across Europe

New EU external border controls, requiring non‑EU citizens to submit fingerprints and photos at departure airports, have caused extensive queues and flight disruptions. Passengers at several European airports have faced waits of up to five hours, with some flights departing only partly filled because travelers could not clear the checks in time.

Airlines and airport groups, including ACI Europe, have written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asking that the checks be temporarily suspended when passenger volumes exceed processing capacity. They warn that the situation could worsen during the summer travel peak, urging more flexibility in the system and noting that many automated screening gates are malfunctioning.