EU rejects calls to delay biometric border checks despite queue concerns

The European Union has rejected calls from airlines and airports to suspend the rollout of its new biometric border control system, despite acknowledging there are around 20 “difficult spots” – out of 1,500 border crossing points – where long queues and operational challenges are expected, the Guardian reports.

With the peak summer travel season set to begin in just over a week, EU officials, the Guardian reports, said the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is "not perfect," but maintained that a full suspension is neither necessary nor feasible.

As previously reported, the EES will require non-EU travellers entering the Schengen area for the first time to register their fingerprints and facial image.

Those biometrics will then be used to verify their identity each time they leave and re-enter the Schengen zone.

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

The travel industry has warned the new system could create significant delays at some of Europe's busiest holiday gateways.

Last week, Airports Council International (ACI), Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the EU to postpone the implementation of the new controls until next summer, citing concerns that the system could disrupt travel during the busiest months of the year.

IATA said passengers were already experiencing delays and missed connections at airports in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Belgium.

EU officials said one of the biggest bottlenecks has been at a small regional airport, where roughly 3,000 passengers arrived within a single hour but could not be processed quickly because only four biometric screening booths were available.

READ MORE: Not so fast: EU to delay ETIAS until 2027, report claims

Officials also noted the congestion is largely seasonal, affecting the airport for only "two or three months a year" as it serves a popular holiday destination.

They added that Lisbon Airport has already reduced wait times by assigning additional staff, while Brussels Airport is set to receive 50 extra officers from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to help manage passenger flows, the Guardian reports.

Despite many concerns, EU officials said the system cannot be paused in some countries while remaining operational in others, warning that doing so would create the "unfortunate situation of travellers stranded at border crossings."

Additionally, as reported earlier, the EU is also expected to delay the introduction of a separate pre-authorization visa system known as the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

According to a report in the Financial Times, the ETIAS, which requires an online application and fee before a trip, will not launch until 2027.

“Solutions already exist”

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.

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.

READ MORE: EU promises action after border checks trigger airport delays

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.

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