Airports are joined by airlines in calling for urgent review of Schengen Entry/Exit System ahead of summer peak
Europe’s airports and airlines are raising serious concerns about the operational impact of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) as waiting times at border control increase sharply ahead of the busy summer season.
In a joint call, ACI EUROPE, together with airline associations, is urging the European Commission and Member States to conduct an immediate review of the system’s rollout and introduce greater flexibility before traffic volumes surge in July and August.
Since the rollout began on 12 October 2025, the system has gradually expanded from covering 10% of eligible travellers to 35% in January, with full deployment scheduled by 9 April 2026. However, monthly monitoring conducted among ACI EUROPE members shows that maximum waiting times at border control have increased from an average of up to 30 minutes before EES to as much as two hours since January, with some airports experiencing even longer delays.
With summer traffic volumes set to nearly double those in the winter months, airports warn that waiting times could reach 4 hours or more if corrective action is not taken.
Airports and airlines are therefore calling for a clear and coordinated contingency framework that would allow Member States to temporarily suspend or adjust the application of EES in case of severe operational disruption. Crucially, they are asking that such flexibility extend throughout the summer peak, ensuring that border management objectives can be achieved without jeopardising passenger experience, operational safety, or network stability.
With passenger volumes rising rapidly and EES moving toward full implementation, the sector warns that without urgent corrective measures, prolonged border queues risk becoming the new normal at Europe’s airports – with knock-on effects for connectivity, punctuality and overall travel reliability.
Find out more:
