EU’s digital border checks spark travel chaos as airlines warn of five-hour queues, missed flights

The European Union’s new digital border control system is causing major disruption at airports, with passengers facing waits of up to five hours and flights departing with empty seats because travellers are unable to clear immigration in time, aviation industry groups have warned.

In an open letter published on Wednesday, Europe’s leading airport and airline organisations said delays linked to the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) had reached a “critical point.”

The joint letter, signed by Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe), Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene before the peak summer travel season worsens the situation.

“The current implementation of the EES is creating severe operational consequences, disrupting passengers and putting border authorities, airports and airlines under unsustainable pressure,” the organisations wrote.

They warned that European airports are expected to handle around 40 million more passengers in July and August than in the previous two months, making immediate action essential.

Without greater flexibility, the groups said, border congestion is likely to intensify, further disrupting travellers and straining airport operations.

The aviation bodies also warned that prolonged delays could damage Europe’s reputation as a tourist destination, with reports suggesting some international visitors are already reconsidering travel plans because of lengthy border waits.

They called on the European Commission to allow member states to temporarily suspend the Entry/Exit System whenever passenger volumes exceed the operational capacity of border checkpoints until the system becomes more stable and staffing levels improve.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) backed the appeal, warning that persistent delays could jeopardise up to 41 million international arrivals and an estimated $45.4 billion in visitor spending.

“If lengthy delays become accepted practice, travellers will look elsewhere,” WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said.

“Europe cannot afford to compromise its competitiveness or the experience it offers millions of visitors.”

The European Commission had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

The Entry/Exit System, introduced in October to replace manual passport stamping for non-EU travellers, records passengers’ personal details, passport information, fingerprints, facial images and entry and exit dates.

Although the European Commission declared the system fully operational across the Schengen Area in April, airports and airlines say technical and operational issues have continued to cause long queues, with some passengers missing flights after failing to complete border checks in time.