EU promises action after border checks trigger airport delays

The European Union (EU) will step up efforts to address problems with its new border control system after airports and airlines warned the rollout was causing significant travel delays, according to a letter from migration chief Magnus Brunner obtained by news hub AFP.

The move follows industry concerns that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) has led to waits of up to five hours, raising fears of widespread summer travel delays.

In the July 3 letter, Brunner said the European Commission "will now make additional efforts to help those member states that still encounter issues."

The EU completed the rollout of EES earlier this year. The system requires non-EU travellers to provide biometric data when entering most European countries, which is then verified when they depart.

The system is meant to replace manual passport stamping with a digital process that collects travellers' personal and biometric information to monitor overstays and record refusals of entry.

The system is being implemented across EU member states, with the exception of Ireland and Cyprus, as well as non-EU countries that participate in the Schengen free movement area, including Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

Brunner's letter was a response to a joint appeal from ACI Europe, the A4E association of European airlines, and the International Air Transport Association, which represents more than 360 airlines globally.

In their letter, the organizations urged the European Commission to take "immediate intervention before the situation deteriorates further during the peak summer travel season" and called for member states to have the ability to temporarily suspend the new border checks during periods of high passenger volumes.

Brunner noted that the EES framework already accounts for potential implementation challenges and includes temporary flexibilities during the 2026 summer travel season through early September, such as allowing countries to suspend the collection of biometric data when necessary.

He added that delays may also be linked to factors beyond the new system itself, including staffing shortages or inadequate border infrastructure.

“A lot of work to do”

Speaking at a press conference in Ireland on Friday (July 3), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged that the rollout of EES has not gone smoothly.

“We are working with the member states [so] that the technical problems are being solved,” von der Leyen said at a press conference in Cork, Ireland, as reported by Politico.

von der Leyen went on to say that there’s “still quite a lot of work to do to have these technical issues solved together with the member states.”

The remarks signal a shift in the Commission's messaging, which had previously downplayed disruption associated with the EES.

“In most EU airports, this impact is indeed limited,” Markus Lammert, the Commission’s spokesperson for internal affairs, said last Wednesday.

The Commission said earlier this year that registering an EES typically takes about 70 seconds.

The aviation industry, however, paints a different picture.

It says border wait times have stretched to as long as five hours during peak travel periods since the EES became mandatory.

Teething problems

New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says that prolonged border delays associated with the rollout of EES could significantly impact international tourism.

The study, based on a survey of more than 2,500 travellers from four of Europe's key source markets—the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia—reveals that lengthy waits at border crossings could deter millions from visiting the Schengen Area.

According to the findings, released earlier this month, if travellers regularly encounter border delays of three to four hours when entering Schengen countries, around one-third would be much less likely to travel to the region or would choose alternative destinations altogether.

When these responses are applied to projected visitor numbers for 2026, the potential impact becomes substantial, with up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in tourism spending at risk.

“The introduction of EES is an important step forward in modernizing Europe’s borders and strengthening security,” said Gloria Guevara, president & CEO of WTTC, in a statement.

“Our research clearly shows that travellers support digital and biometric border systems and understand the long-term benefits they can deliver.

“As with any major transformation, there will inevitably be teething problems. The challenge now is not whether EES should proceed, but how governments, border authorities and the Travel & Tourism sector work together to ensure implementation is as smooth as possible.”

The “good news,” said Guevara, is that “solutions already exist.”

“By making greater use of digital pre-registration tools, improving traveller communications and ensuring operational readiness at border crossing points, Europe can reduce friction and deliver the seamless experience travellers expect,” she said.

Two more years?

However, the new border system may not “stabilize” for another two years, one official has warned.

Uku Särekanno, a director of the EU border agency Frontex, said some member states were “struggling” to adopt the EES.

“We expect that the situation will stabilize in one or two years," Särekannotold said at a recent event hosted by the UK travel association Abta, as reported by the Guardian.

“The most challenging part is the first enrolment, that is the moment where fingerprints and facial images will be taken. If a person is visiting the EU again, they don’t have to go through the same process, so they can have a more fast track of entry.”

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