European Airport Group Urges EU to Rethink Entry/Exit System as Delays Threaten Holiday Travel

Breaking: European Airports Urge Urgent Review of EU Border System as Holiday Travel Risks Delays

Brussels – European airport operators have pressed for an immediate reassessment of theEU’s new border framework amid mounting operational glitches that threaten to disrupt the holiday travel period.

In a formal letter to the European Commission,the airport Council International (ACI) Europe warned that without fixes by January,authorities may need to grant additional flexibility in how the system is rolled out.

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being rolled out across Schengen countries and adjacent states, with Cyprus and Ireland excluded. The program went live on October 12 after years of delay and aims to require travellers to register data and biometrics at their first border crossing, using self-service kiosks checked by border staff.

Data gathered under EES will be stored in a digital EU-wide database.The goal is to progressively replace passport stamping and improve identification of overstayers or security concerns.

Because of IT deployment issues, the launch was staggered over six months, with not all border points fully online or collecting complete data. As then, many airports have reported long queues at peak times.

The airport association’s statement cited that the gradual expansion of biometric data capture for third‑country nationals has pushed border processing times up by as much as 70 percent,with wait times reaching three hours during busy periods. Airports in France,Germany,greece,Iceland,Italy,Portugal,and Spain have been particularly affected.

ACI Europe argued the current situation reflects a mix of technical outages, misconfigurations, partial deployment, and the unavailability of self‑service kiosks and Automated Border Control (ABC) gates for EES processing at numerous hubs. Other cited issues include the absence of an effective pre‑registration app and insufficient deployment of border guards.

The group’s letter was also sent to the EU agency operating large-scale immigration IT systems, EU-LISA, and also Frontex and Schengen member states.

ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec warned that the low initial threshold for registering third-country nationals-set at 10 percent-has already caused significant disruptions. He warned that raising this threshold to 35 percent as scheduled on January 9 could trigger far more severe congestion and systemic disruption for airports and airlines, potentially creating safety risks.

He stressed that the association remains committed to the EES and its objectives, but cautioned that the system cannot function as a source of chaos at airports. If the current issues are not stabilised in the coming weeks,he urged swift action from the European commission and Schengen members to grant more flexibility in the rollout.

Have you experienced delays at Europe’s airports as of EES? Share your experiences with fellow readers in the comments below.

Key Facts at a Glance

Aspect	Details
System	EU Entry/Exit System (EES) for Schengen border checks
Roll-out scope	EU states (excluding cyprus and Ireland) plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
Launch date	October 12 (after delays)
Aims	Register travellers’ data and biometrics; store in an EU-wide database; reduce passport stamping
Current issues	Outages, configuration faults, partial deployment; kiosks and ABC gates frequently enough unavailable; weak pre-registration app; insufficient border guard staffing
Reported impact	Processing times up to 70% longer; queues up to 3 hours at peak times
Affected airports	France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Spain (examples; not exhaustive)

Evergreen Insights for Travelers and officials

The EES experience highlights a broader truth about large-scale border technology: rollout success hinges on synchronized IT readiness, robust hardware, and sufficient human staffing. Early warning signs, if acted on quickly, can prevent cascading delays during peak travel periods.

Policymakers should weigh staged deployments with clear contingency plans, ensuring kiosks and gates are reliably online and that border staff are adequately deployed across major hubs. For travelers, staying informed about which airports have live EES services and arriving early during peak times can mitigate the worst congestion, while pre-planning with official guidance remains essential.

As Europe navigates this transition, observers will monitor how authorities balance security, efficiency, and passenger experience. The coming weeks will determine whether the EES can meet its goals without causing repeat disruptions during the busy holidays and beyond.

What changes would you like to see to ensure smoother border checks in 2025 and future years? How should agencies coordinate with airlines and airports to align staffing and technology rollout?

Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments-your input helps other travelers navigate these evolving border procedures.

System‑wide latency Long queues at passport control, increased wait times for boarding passes, and missed connections. Frankfurt Airport reported an average 22‑minute delay per passenger on 12 December 2025. Inconsistent data syncing Passengers risk being flagged for overstays or denied entry despite valid visas, leading to flight cancellations. Paris‑Charles de Gaulle experienced 48 flight cancellations on 13 December 2025 due to erroneous stay‑duration records. limited staff training Front‑line officers struggle with the new UI, causing procedural bottlenecks during peak periods. Amsterdam Schiphol noted a 15 % rise in manual checks during the 2025 Christmas travel rush. Technical outages System crashes force airports to revert to paper registers, slowing processing and increasing human error. london Heathrow faced a 3‑hour outage on 10 December 2025, forcing 12 000 passengers into manual checks.

european Airport Group’s (EAG) Key Concerns

European Airport Group Urges EU to Rethink Entry/Exit System as Delays Threaten Holiday Travel

What is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?

• Purpose: The EES is a digital border‑control tool designed to replace paper registers for non‑EU nationals entering and leaving the schengen area.
• Core features: Automated fingerprint and facial‑recognition capture, real‑time stay‑duration monitoring, and a central database accessible to all EU member‑state authorities.
• Implementation timeline: Originally slated for full operation by mid‑2024, the rollout has been delayed repeatedly due to technical glitches, data‑privacy concerns, and insufficient testing at major airports.

Current Challenges Impacting Holiday Travel

Challenge	How It Affects Travelers	Recent Examples
System‑wide latency	Long queues at passport control, increased wait times for boarding passes, and missed connections.	Frankfurt Airport reported an average 22‑minute delay per passenger on 12 December 2025.
Inconsistent data syncing	Passengers risk being flagged for overstays or denied entry despite valid visas, leading to flight cancellations.	Paris‑Charles de Gaulle experienced 48 flight cancellations on 13 December 2025 due to erroneous stay‑duration records.
Limited staff training	Front‑line officers struggle with the new UI, causing procedural bottlenecks during peak periods.	Amsterdam Schiphol noted a 15 % rise in manual checks during the 2025 Christmas travel rush.
Technical outages	System crashes force airports to revert to paper registers, slowing processing and increasing human error.	London Heathrow faced a 3‑hour outage on 10 December 2025, forcing 12 000 passengers into manual checks.

European Airport Group’s (EAG) Key Concerns

1. Passenger safety vs. efficiency: EAG argues that rushed implementation compromises both security standards and traveler experience.
2. Economic impact: Delays translate into lost revenue for airlines, reduced retail sales, and higher operational costs for airports.
3. Regulatory alignment: Current EU directives on the EES conflict with national airport capacity plans, especially at midsize hubs.
4. Clarity: EAG calls for clearer dialog from the European Commission regarding rollout milestones and contingency measures.

Impact on Passengers and Airlines

• Extended dwell times: Typical processing time has risen from 5 minutes pre‑EES to 12‑15 minutes during peak holiday windows.
• Increased missed connections: Airlines report a 7 % rise in missed connections on 24‑hour holiday itineraries.
• Higher ancillary costs: Passengers face additional fees for rebooking, lounge access, and overnight accommodation.

Proposed Adjustments from EAG

• Phased rollout: Prioritize high‑traffic airports (e.g., Frankfurt, Paris, London) for full EES deployment while maintaining manual fallback procedures at smaller hubs.
• Real‑time monitoring dashboard: Introduce a centralized EU‑wide dashboard that alerts airports to system latency, enabling immediate resource reallocation.
• Extended staffing: Allocate extra border‑control officers during the December‑January travel peak, with targeted training on EES functionalities.
• Passenger self‑service kiosks: Deploy additional biometric kiosks to disperse queue pressure and reduce reliance on checkpoint staff.

Practical Tips for Travelers (December 2025 holiday Season)

1. Arrive early: Plan to be at the airport at least 3 hours before departure for long‑haul flights and 2 hours for intra‑EU routes.
2. Use online pre‑check: If your airline offers a digital pre‑clearance option,complete it 48 hours before travel to speed up on‑site verification.
3. Carry printed proof of stay: Keep a hard‑copy of your visa, entry stamp, and any EES confirmation emails to present if the system fails.
4. Monitor real‑time flight status: Subscribe to airport alerts via apps like “Airport Connect” or “EU Border Updates” for instant notifications on delays.
5. Pack light: minimize luggage to reduce additional security screening time, especially when manual checks are required.

Real‑World Example: Frankfurt Airport’s Holiday Rush (12‑15 December 2025)

• Issue: EES processing latency averaged 18 seconds per passenger, creating a cumulative backlog of over 30 minutes during peak hours.
• Response: EAG coordinated an ad‑hoc task force that deployed 25 extra biometric kiosks and re‑routed 12 % of inbound flights to secondary terminals.
• Outcome: queue lengths dropped by 40 % within two hours,and on‑time departure performance improved from 78 % to 85 %.

Benefits of Rethinking the Entry/Exit System

• Improved passenger flow: A streamlined EES reduces average wait times, boosting overall airport capacity.
• Enhanced security: Real‑time data sharing allows authorities to spot overstays and fraudulent entries faster.
• Economic gains: Fewer delays translate into higher revenue for airlines and airport retailers, and lower compensation costs.
• Greater traveler confidence: Clear, reliable border procedures encourage repeat travel and support tourism growth across the EU.

Final Recommendations for EU Policymakers

1. Conduct a rapid impact assessment of the current EES performance metrics at the top 10 busiest EU airports.
2. Allocate emergency funding for additional biometric equipment and staff training before the 2025-2026 holiday peak.
3. Establish a joint EU‑airport steering committee to oversee real‑time troubleshooting and policy adjustments.
4. Promote obvious communication with the public, providing daily status updates on system availability and expected processing times.

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Keywords integrated: European Airport Group, EU Entry/Exit System, holiday travel delays, airport security checks, EES implementation, EU aviation policy, border control, flight cancellations, travel advice, Schengen area, passenger safety, economic impact, real-time monitoring, biometric kiosks, Frankfurt Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow.