Stop pretending Europe's EES is working, says airports chief

The head of Europe's airport industry association says worries about the EU's new digital border control system are causing sleepless nights for him and other aviation leaders, reports BBC News.

The EU completed the rollout of its Entry-Exit System (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.

While the system has operated successfully in some locations, it has also been linked to major delays at several airports, with some passengers missing their flights.

Stefan Schulte, president of trade association ACI Europe and chief executive of the company that operates Frankfurt Airport, said politicians must "stop pretending…that EES is working just fine. It is not,” as reported by the BBC.

Speaking at an industry conference in Prague, Schulte warned that passengers are already facing queues lasting several hours during busy travel periods.

He added that he is uncertain how airports will manage as traffic volumes continue to rise in the coming weeks.

READ MORE: Europe risks losing 41 million visitors as EES delays threaten tourism: WTTC

The EES requires most travellers from outside the European Economic Area to provide biometric information, such as fingerprints and facial scans, which is then used to verify their identity whenever they enter or leave the Schengen travel zone.

"We urgently need full flexibility for border control authorities to suspend the EES whenever needed to avoid further chaos – along with a rethink of those processes," Schulte was quoted as saying.

"This is about showing respect and decency for those who chose to travel to the EU, and safeguarding our reputation as a welcoming and efficient destination."

The European Commission is allowing EES to be suspended in some circumstances until September.

However, Schulte told the BBC's World at One that only national governments have the authority to suspend the system, not airport operators, and said queues continued to grow while officials deliberated.

He also cautioned that the busy summer travel season extends well beyond early September, warning that airports could face a "complete collapse of the system" if current problems are not resolved.

Teething problems

Meanwhile, 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.

By the numbers

WTTC’s research shows strong support for the EES.

After learning about the system, 65 per cent of travellers said they support EES, while only six per cent expressed strong opposition to biometric border controls.

Travellers identified enhanced border security (57 per cent), faster processing on future trips (52 per cent), and increased confidence in border controls (43 per cent) as the key benefits of the new system.

However, awareness remains a significant challenge, says the WTTC.

More than half of respondents (55 per cent) have heard little or nothing about EES, and nearly half (49 per cent) do not know what will be required of them when entering or leaving the Schengen Area.

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, which requires passengers from non-EU countries to register their personal information and biometrics at the border.

“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.”

The EES was initially launched last October and became fully operational on April 10.

Current EU regulations permit border checks to be temporarily paused during busy periods to ease congestion, although this flexibility is due to expire in September.

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