EES Border Queues Persist Six Months After Full Rollout

Nearly six months after Europe's Entry/Exit System became fully operational, airport and airline associations say border-control queues still routinely exceed two hours, reaching five hours in the most extreme peak periods. On 12 October 2026, ACI EUROPE and Airlines for Europe called for six operational and regulatory changes, including an end to duplicate checks, better biometric processing and a permanent mechanism to suspend biometric enrolment during severe congestion.

Five hours is a reported worst-case delay, not the average wait at every Schengen airport. But the latest warning suggests that the difficulties identified during the spring rollout have not been resolved by the end of the summer travel season.

A year since launch and six months since full implementation

The Entry/Exit System began its progressive rollout on 12 October 2025 and became fully operational on 10 April 2026. It registers most short-stay non-EU travellers crossing the external borders of 29 participating European countries. Instead of passport stamps, authorities record identity and travel-document details, facial images, fingerprints and the dates and places of crossings.

The European Commission expects the system to improve border security, detect overstays and make subsequent identity checks more efficient. First-time biometric enrolment, however, has introduced additional work at busy border crossing points.

Two-hour queues remain common, industry bodies say

In their 12 October statement, ACI EUROPE and Airlines for Europe (A4E) said delays at border control still routinely exceed two hours, with waits of up to five hours during the worst peak periods. The associations described missed flights and connections, congested terminals and unusual pressure on airport and border staff.

The figures reflect industry reports of disruption at affected checkpoints. They do not establish a five-hour average across Europe's airports, nor do they mean every traveller will encounter prolonged screening.

The difficulties were evident in spring. In April, a British traveller reported a four-hour wait at Pisa airport, while a family missed a flight from Copenhagen after lengthy queues and a kiosk shutdown. The family reported additional costs of roughly £1,800–2,000. The Guardian documented these accounts, which informed International Investment's original May report. In July, aviation organisations called for emergency flexibility at peak times. Their October proposals address the underlying EES process.

Staffing and technology are slowing the process

ACI EUROPE and A4E identify insufficient border-control staff, unstable supporting IT, limited use of self-service kiosks and automated gates, and restricted functionality of the Travel to Europe app. The bottleneck is not simply the time needed to record an individual traveller; it is also the capacity of border posts to process simultaneous arrivals without repeated checks or technical failures.

Six changes proposed by airports and airlines

The aviation associations have submitted a six-point plan addressing the sequence of verification, biometric records, pre-registration, automated controls and operational flexibility.

The final proposal is not a demand to abolish passport checks. The European Commission had already permitted temporary relief from biometric enrolment during severe queues in the summer, but that derogation ran only until 6 September. International Investment covered the measure in August. ACI EUROPE and A4E now want partial suspension of biometrics to remain available as a permanent operational safeguard while document checks continue.

Why the Travel to Europe app has not solved the problem

Travel to Europe lets eligible travellers submit some identity information before they reach the border at locations where the service is supported. Its rollout and functions vary by country. Industry groups argue that the current limited deployment is insufficient to reduce congestion throughout the system.

The app does not replace border inspection, guarantee admission, serve as a visa or substitute for the separate ETIAS authorisation scheme. Travellers should check whether pre-registration is available for their actual point of entry.

Which travellers are affected

EES generally applies to non-EU nationals making short visits of up to 90 days in a 180-day period at the external borders of participating countries, including many British tourists. Exemptions apply to certain categories, including some residence-permit and long-stay-visa holders; travellers should verify their status using official EU guidance.

An internal Schengen journey does not necessarily involve EES registration. The point where a passenger crosses the external border matters, especially on itineraries with connecting flights.

Border queues affect the wider travel economy

Long waits can lead to missed connections, unexpected accommodation costs, crowding and staff overtime. Even when a passenger ultimately completes the journey, uncertainty can discourage short breaks and tight itineraries. There is no reliable basis in the October industry statement, however, to quantify a Europe-wide loss of hotel revenue or a decline in tourist arrivals directly caused by EES.

For travellers, the practical response is to review official entry requirements, check whether Travel to Europe is offered at their destination and follow the arrival-time advice of the airline and airport. Five hours should not be used as a universal extra time allowance: queues vary by airport, date and the condition of border equipment.

The reform proposals have not been adopted

The six measures are requests from airport and airline organisations, not reforms already enacted by the European Commission or Member States. Their success would need to be demonstrated through shorter queues, more reliable IT systems, wider use of automated border checks and effective pre-registration.

EES is now established as part of European border infrastructure. The debate is about whether security improvements can be delivered without imposing excessive delays on passengers. Six months after full implementation, aviation bodies say this requires structural changes rather than another period of adaptation.

FAQ

When did EES become fully operational?

On 10 April 2026, after a progressive rollout beginning on 12 October 2025.

Are five-hour queues normal at Schengen borders?

No. Five hours is an extreme peak delay reported by industry bodies. They say queues at affected checkpoints still routinely exceed two hours.

What causes the delays?

Industry groups cite staffing shortages, unstable IT, limited use of automated gates and kiosks, and shortcomings in the Travel to Europe app.

What reforms are being requested?

Eliminating double verification, improving biometrics, preventing duplicate records, upgrading pre-registration, expanding automated controls and allowing limited suspension of biometric enrolment during congestion.

Has the EU adopted the six-point plan?

As of 14 October 2026, these are aviation-industry proposals, not an adopted EU reform package.

Who must use EES?

Most short-stay non-EU travellers crossing the external borders of the 29 participating European countries, subject to specific exemptions.

Does Travel to Europe replace border checks?

No. It supports advance submission of certain details where available, but travellers must still complete the required border procedures.