Berlin, July 5th, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – Travelers without E.U. passports are facing significant delays at European airports this summer as the bloc’s new digital border system strains under the weight of peak travel demand. According to German-language publications, the Entry-Exit System, or EES, introduced in October 2025, requires travelers from non-Schengen countries to submit biometric data, including fingerprints, every time they cross an external E.U. border.
According to the international airport association ACI, the result has been lines stretching up to five hours at passport control.
ACI laid out its concerns in an open letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, warning that the situation had reached “a critical point.” The letter argued that the EES rollout is causing serious operational disruption, placing passengers, border authorities, airports, and airlines alike under unsustainable pressure. The association called for immediate intervention before the situation worsens further during the peak summer travel period, noting that not all airports are equally prepared for the new system.
The airline Ryanair raised similar concerns back in May, appealing directly to Portuguese authorities and asking that EES checks be suspended, at least for the summer months. The airline accused Lisbon Airport of failing to deploy sufficient staff, ensure system readiness, or provide functioning self-service kiosks. Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon was known for long delays even before the introduction of the EES system. Notably, Portugal and Sweden are currently the only countries where travelers can pre-register their data through an EU app designed to help them skip the lines.
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The Schengen Area includes 25 of the E.U.’s 27 member states, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Popular destinations including Portugal, Greece, and Italy have repeatedly suspended EES checks in recent weeks in an effort to ease traveler frustration. Under the rules, such suspensions are limited to six hours at a time, but airports have been renewing them repeatedly. ACI is now pushing for the right to suspend checks preemptively and entirely, “at least for July and August.”
The airport association pointed to several conditions it says are necessary for the system to function properly: adequate staffing, fully operational self-service kiosks, and complete functionality of the pre-registration app across all member states. In its current form, ACI warned, the EES risks damaging Europe’s reputation, its tourism industry, and its broader connectivity. Adding to travelers’ frustration, E.U. law provides no right to compensation for missed connecting flights caused by delays at security or border checks.
Separately, fears of a possible kerosene shortage tied to the war involving Iran appear not to be materializing. E.U. Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said there is currently no kerosene shortage in Europe.
