The Airports International Council is calling on the European Union to allow countries to temporarily suspend the newly imposed entry/exit system (EES) when passenger volumes exceed operational capacity this summer.
In an open letter to the European Commission, the council said the “current implementation of the EES is creating severe operational consequences disrupting passengers and putting border authorities, airports and airlines under unsustainable pressure.”
“We therefore urge your immediate intervention before the situation deteriorates further during the peak summer travel season.”
The EES replaces traditional passport stamps for non‑EU travellers entering any of the 29 Schengen Area countries, which have open internal borders, for stays of up to 90 days—including visitors from visa‑exempt countries such as Canada.
The digital system was first introduced at select airports last October and became fully operational in early April. However, reports of long lines and lengthy waits immediately followed.
The council notes that older travellers, families and those with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by long border control lines, with delays of five or more hours a common occurrence.
Schengen member states do have the ability to suspend the collection of biometric data until September, but the council said that measure, while welcome, hasn’t curbed lengthy waits at border control points, noting that an additional 40 million passengers will travel through European airports in July and August.
“As representatives of Europe's aviation sector, we have a responsibility to warn that this would result in a significant worsening of an already very difficult situation for passengers,” the council wrote.
While the European Commission has yet to respond to the letter, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has endorsed the missive and called on the commission to go further by accelerating digital EES pre-registration, launching a coordinated communication campaign in key source markets and guaranteeing full operational readiness at borders through adequate staffing, reliable equipment, and streamlined processes.
Without improvements, WTTC said the new EES system puts 41 million annual visitor arrivals and $45.4 billion in annual visitor spending at risk from some of Europe's most important source markets.
“As with any major transformation, there will inevitably be teething problems,” said WTTC president and CEO Gloria Guevara. “The challenge now is not whether EES should proceed, but how governments, border authorities and the Travel & Tourism sector work together to ensure implementation is as smooth as possible.”
