EU admits 'a lot to do' as new border system sparks 5-hour airport queues

A delayed launch

The Entry-Exit System (EES) finally went live in October 2025, three years behind schedule. It was meant to be fully operational by April 2026, replacing manual passport stamps with biometric registration for non-EU travelers. The system captures facial scans and fingerprints, logging entry and exit dates to track overstays.

Queues spiral out of control

By summer 2026, processing times for non-EU passengers had more than doubled since April, according to consultancy Veovo. An ACI Europe survey found peak waiting times reached three and a half hours at some airports in May. This week, airports and airlines warned Brussels that queues "can now reach up to 5 hours at peak times", forcing passengers to wait outside terminals and on tarmacs.

The EES is what keeps me and many other airport chiefs in Europe awake at night.

Technical glitches and heatwaves

Fingerprint scanners failed during heatwaves because sweaty fingers could not be read reliably. Travelers reported unstable software and repeated re-registrations across multiple trips. Self-service terminals meant to speed up the process have largely failed to deliver.

EU defends the system

The European Commission says the EES has already prevented around 30,000 people from entering the Schengen area illegally, including nearly 7,000 who had overstayed on previous visits. Over 108 million people have been processed through the system, and almost 44,000 were denied entry, mostly for lacking a valid reason for their stay.

We are working with the member states to resolve these technical problems.

Industry pressure and next steps

Airports and airlines describe the situation as "unsustainable pressure", especially with summer holidays underway. An EU official dismissed frustrated passengers by suggesting they "join the Schengen area". The Commission has scheduled a meeting with industry representatives for Tuesday, July 7.