EU Entry/Exit System Triggers Widespread Travel Delays and Queue Chaos

The European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), fully operational across the Schengen area since 10 April 2026, requires non‑EU travellers to submit biometric data (fingerprints and facial images) at their first border crossing. Airports and land checkpoints have struggled to process the volume, with wait times reported of up to five hours, causing missed connections, empty aircraft and considerable passenger inconvenience.

Airlines and industry groups, including Ryanair and IATA, have asked the European Commission to suspend or extend temporary flexibility that allows border police to skip biometric checks during peak periods. Nine member states – Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland – have written to the Commission urging that this emergency mechanism remain in place beyond the 6 September 2026 deadline. The Commission acknowledges “significant difficulties” at roughly 20 high‑traffic border points but says a total suspension is not feasible.

Because of the operational bottlenecks, the EU has also postponed the launch of the related Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to 2027, citing the need to resolve EES‑related disruptions before adding another digital entry requirement.

The crisis affects millions of summer tourists and business travellers across Europe, prompting airports to advise passengers to arrive three to four hours before flight times and prompting public calls for system redesign.