Rome airports warn of summer chaos due to EU biometric border system

The chief executive of Aeroporti di Roma, Marco Troncone, warned that the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) may create severe bottlenecks at Rome’s Fiumicino and Ciampino airports during the peak summer travel period. He said the biometric enrolment process is “incompatible with peak volumes” and rated the risk at eight or nine out of ten, proposing a temporary suspension of the biometric checks to keep terminals flowing.

Airport industry groups echo the concern. Olivier Jankovec, director of ACI Europe, described the system as “systemically slow”, citing wait times of three to four hours at major hubs and a threat to the EU’s reputation as a smooth‑travel destination. IATA has warned that queues could reach six hours at the most congested airports. Other EU members, such as Portugal and Greece, have already deployed additional security staff or temporarily eased the checks for British travellers.

The European Commission notes that the EES regulation contains built‑in flexibility, allowing Member States to suspend biometric data collection in “exceptional circumstances” to prevent excessive waiting times. The situation remains under close monitoring as airlines and passengers prepare for the summer surge.