Airports, Airlines Warn New EU Border Checks Snarling Summer Travel
Industry groups warn the digital Entry/Exit System is causing waits of up to five hours and could disrupt 40 million more summer passengers, they said.
- On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, aviation industry bodies ACI Europe, A4E, and IATA wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging immediate suspension of the new Entry/Exit System due to severe operational consequences.
- Fully operational since April 2026, the Entry/Exit System replaced manual passport stamping with digital biometric registration, yet the rollout has triggered excessive queues and unsustainable pressure on border authorities, airports, and airlines.
- With European airports expecting 40 million more passengers during July and August, current flexibility measures allowing temporary biometric suspension have failed to prevent delays now reaching "up to five hours during peak traffic periods."
- Industry leaders warn these disruptions are "undermining Europe's reputation, European tourism and connectivity," as some international visitors are "reconsidering trips" to Europe due to excessive border delays.
- The groups seek a "permanent operational flexibility mechanism" by September to manage exceptional circumstances, while the World Travel & Tourism Council supports this call for "coordinated action" to safeguard the EES implementation.
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The new migration controls in Europe have led to queues of up to five hours and have made many passengers wait in the open air, in addition to forcing some flights to take off with half the occupation, according to the alert of airlines and airports sent to the President of the European Commission. Exclusive material for subscribers. To have full access, access the link of the subject and register.
==History==In the EU airports, a new biometric control system has been introduced, requesting airlines to suspend its operations temporarily in order to avoid disrupting flights in the middle of the summer season.
Airlines and airports demand the suspension of the new biometric border control system of the EU, the Entry/Exit System (EES), during the peak period of summer vacations, warning that some planes take off half-naked, and passengers are required to stay at queues for up to five hours, notes The Guardian. In a letter addressed to the President ...
Airlines are calling to suspend new border checks just weeks before summer travel chaos
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