Airports, airlines urge flexibility as EU's new border system causes 'significant disruptions'

Airports and airlines across Europe on Friday called for immediate flexibility in the implementation of the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES), following "significant disruptions" on its first day of full operation.

In a joint statement, Airports Council International (ACI) Europe and Airlines for Europe (A4E) said passengers faced long delays, missed flights, and operational challenges as the system became fully mandatory.

The EES, introduced by the European Commission, digitally records the entry and exit of non-EU travelers, replacing traditional passport stamping across the Schengen area.

According to the statement, passengers experienced waiting times of up to two to three hours at border control during peak periods, despite authorities applying partial suspension measures that allow skipping biometric data collection.

Airlines also reported significant disruptions to flight schedules. In one case, a flight to the UK departed without 51 passengers who were delayed at border checks.

Another flight had no passengers at boarding time, with only 12 arriving at the gate 90 minutes later.

ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec and A4E Managing Director Ourania Georgoutsakou warned that the situation highlights the urgent need for greater operational flexibility, adding that such measures would be crucial in the coming weeks and during the busy summer travel season.

The EES, which began a phased rollout in October 2025 across 29 European countries, officially became fully operational on Friday, marking a major shift in border control procedures for short-stay, non-EU visitors.