“No longer a teething problem”: European Aviation Groups Propose Fixes to Ease EES Delays

Nearly six months after the full rollout of Europe‘s new Entry/Exit System (EES), some travellers are still facing lengthy airport border queues, with wait times reaching up to five hours during peak periods.

Now, two of Europe’s largest aviation industry groups are demanding urgent action, warning that the disruptions are no longer simply growing pains.

In a joint statement issued Monday (Oct. 12), ACI EUROPE and Airlines for Europe (A4E) called on the European Commission and EU Member States to address what they describe as “structural issues” with the Schengen area’s EES.

The organizations say border control wait times routinely exceed two hours, with extreme cases reaching five hours during peak travel periods.

The delays are causing passengers to miss flights and connections, creating congestion in airport terminals and putting additional pressure on border guards, airline employees and airport staff, the groups say.

“This is no longer a teething problem”

Despite efforts by border authorities and airports to improve operations, the two organizations say fundamental problems remain unresolved.

Among the biggest challenges are insufficient border control staffing, unreliable IT systems, limited use of self-service kiosks and automated border gates, and shortcomings with the Travel to Europe pre-registration app.

“The EES has strengthened the security of Europe’s external borders – that is a clear achievement. But six months into its full rollout, the system is not delivering on efficient border crossings and the promise of faster, more seamless travel remains unmet,” said Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI EUROPE, and Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of A4E, in a joint statement.

“This is no longer a teething problem, nor can passengers, airports and airlines keep paying the price for avoidable disruption. The time for simply managing the symptoms is over. We need decisive action to fix the structural problems in the EES, streamline its processes and secure efficient border crossings.”

Six proposed fixes

To address the ongoing disruption, ACI EUROPE and A4E have presented a six-point action plan aimed at making border crossings faster and more efficient without compromising security.

The proposals include:

1. Eliminating double verification procedures.

2. Optimizing biometric verification processes.

3. Preventing the creation of duplicate EES traveller profiles.

4. Upgrading the Travel to Europe app and web portal to improve pre-registration.

5. Expanding and standardizing automated border control access for non-EU travellers.

6. Permanently allowing authorities to partially suspend EES biometric registration when border wait times become excessive.

The final proposal would give border authorities greater flexibility to manage passenger flows during periods of severe or sustained congestion.

What it means for Canadian travellers

The EES applies to non-EU nationals, including Canadians, travelling to participating European countries for short stays.

The system replaces traditional passport stamping with digital registration of travellers’ entry and exit information, including biometric data such as facial images and fingerprints.

For Canadians entering or leaving the Schengen area, the ongoing delays could mean longer waits at border control, particularly during busy travel periods.

The wait times, of course, vary by region and time of year.

Still, the concerns highlight the importance of allowing sufficient time for airport connections involving passport control.

ACI EUROPE and A4E say the European Commission and Member States must move beyond temporary solutions and address the underlying problems.

“Europe needs a border management system that is both secure and operationally effective – not one that achieves one objective at the expense of the other. Our six proposals offer a practical pathway towards that outcome. We are urging the European Commission and Member States to implement them at the earliest, in full cooperation with the industry,” Jankovec and Georgoutsakou concluded.