Prague Airport faces long queues due to new EU Entry/Exit System

Prague Airport is facing significant passenger delays due to the implementation of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES). The new system, which replaces manual passport stamping with electronic registration involving facial recognition and fingerprints, has caused long queues for travelers arriving from non-Schengen countries.

Airport Director Radomír Lašák has called an extraordinary board meeting to demand immediate measures to reduce waiting times and has ordered an internal audit to investigate why the airport was unprepared. While the EES mandate was known since 2022, the airport lacks the necessary infrastructure. Necessary contracts for new foreign police processing stations, previously overseen by board member Martin Kučera, had to be approved recently under an accelerated regime.

Spokesperson Marek Zeman noted that the situation is exacerbated by overlapping long-haul flight arrivals and ongoing construction at Terminal 1. Similar delays related to the EES rollout have been reported at other major European hubs, including Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Munich.