EU Entry/Exit System creates airport delays across Europe

The European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), a biometric registration tool for travelers from non‑EU countries, is generating long queues and technical failures at airports throughout the continent. Automatic self‑service gates are frequently malfunctioning, especially during peak summer traffic, leading to unpredictable wait times and missed flights.

Airport executives, including Marco Troncone, chief executive of Rome’s airports, have warned that the system is “a real disaster” and are urging the EU to allow a temporary suspension or more flexible rules during periods of congestion. Similar bottlenecks have been reported at Lisbon and Milan, and Greece has already halted the checks. The European Commission has extended a flexibility window until September 2026, but the ongoing disruptions threaten thousands of missed connections and could cost the tourism sector tens of billions of euros.