In an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Airlines for Europe (A4E), ACI Europe, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) stated that the situation “has reached a critical point.” They propose completely suspending the EES if passenger traffic exceeds the capacity of border services, according to Euronews.
According to industry data, wait times at border control during peak hours can reach five hours. Passengers are missing flights and connections, and planes often depart half-empty because people do not have time to clear security before the boarding gate closes. The problems affect both major European hubs and smaller airports in popular resort destinations.
Airports estimate that approximately 40 million more passengers will pass through European airports in July and August than in May and June. The industry warns that without further easing of restrictions, the situation will worsen.
The EES system became fully operational on April 10, 2026, following a six-month phased rollout. It replaced passport stamps with digital registration of the entry and exit of citizens from countries outside the EU and the Schengen Area. Upon their first border crossing, travelers have their fingerprints taken, their photo taken, and their data entered into a centralized database.
The new rules apply both to foreigners who require a Schengen visa and to citizens of countries with visa-free travel, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and a number of Latin American countries. The maximum length of stay remains unchanged—up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
According to the European Commission, the system is intended to strengthen the security of external borders and help combat illegal migration and the use of forged documents. Since the launch of the EES, more than 40,000 people have been denied entry due to violations of immigration rules or issues with their documents, and over 1,000 more have been identified as potential security threats.
The European Commission stated that current rules already allow member states to temporarily suspend the collection of biometric data at specific border crossing points in the event of excessive workload. However, broader exceptions are not provided for. Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert said that Brussels is continuing consultations with member states and the aviation industry and will hold another meeting on the situation in the coming days.
