The European Union’s new automated Entry/Exit System (EES) faced a myriad of problems this summer.
The system, which became fully operational across the Schengen Area earlier in 2026 uses digital biometrics, such as facial scans and fingerprint collection, to replace physical passport stamps. When long lines happened at airports like Amsterdam, Rome, and Paris, border authorities were allowed to temporarily pause EES processing.
But that flexibility may now be over. Under the terms of the EES’ implementation, the ability to pause processing was only permitted through September 6, roughly five months after the system’s phased rollout began.
Now, industry groups are asking for continued flexibility.
“The summer has highlighted where operational challenges remain,” said Thomas Reynaert, IATA’s SVP of external affairs, in a LinkedIn post. “Addressing them now means extending the possibility of partial suspension through the winter season, accelerating pre-registration, investing in infrastructure and staffing, and strengthening co-operation between authorities and industry.”
IATA says that passport checks that previously took 20-25 seconds may take closer to 90 seconds under the EES process, something that adds up quickly with several larger international flights land at a destination in close proximity to each other.
Outlets have reported over the summer that significant increases in waiting times at several major European hubs, including:
- Frankfurt airport’s average waiting times reached 120 minutes in July, compared to 60 minutes during the same month a year earlier
- Munich airport’s average waiting times was 60 minutes, compared with 31 minutes the previous year.
- Amsterdam’s Schiphol saw maximum waiting times increase to 120 minutes from 80 minutes.
Airlines are getting into the act, as well.
“The EU’s handling of EES has been a shambles from start to finish,” said Ryanair’s COO Neal McMahon. “Airlines, airports and border authorities repeatedly warned Brussels that the rollout was not ready, that it would increase processing times and that it would create excessive queues for passengers. Those warnings were ignored, with EU citizens the ones delayed and disrupted. Passengers should not be made pay the price for the EU’s failed EES rollout. Ryanair calls on the EU Commission to urgently extend the EES derogation until at least April 2027.”
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