Stop pretending EU's new border system is working, says airports chief

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Stop pretending EU's new border system is working, says airports chiefImage source, Adam HassanjeeImage caption, People queue at passport control in Milan Bergamo on 16 AprilByTheo LeggettBusiness correspondentPublished23 June 2026, 13:57 BSTUpdated 13 minutes agoThe head of Europe's airports lobby group says concerns over the region's new digital border control system are keeping him and other industry bosses awake at night. Earlier this year, the EU completed the roll out of its Entry-Exit System (EES). It requires travellers from outside the EU to register biometric information when entering most European countries, which is then checked when they leave.

Although EES has been working well in some countries, it has also been blamed for causing significant delays at a number of airports, with some passengers missing flights. Stefan Schulte, president of ACI Europe, said politicians should "stop pretending... that EES is working just fine.

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"Schulte, who is also head of the company that owns Frankfurt Airport, told an industry event in Prague: "Passengers are queueing for hours at peak traffic times and I just do not know how we will be able to cope in the coming weeks with the expected increase in traffic. "The has contacted the European Commission, which oversees the EES, for comment. Why are there holiday delay warnings over the EU's new border system?

Published14 AprilEarlier this month, dozens of Ryanair passengers were left stranded in Athens after their flight to London Luton left without them. Ryanair blamed border delays, while the airport said it had been experiencing congestion linked to "additional processing requirements", though neither directly said EES was responsible. However, it marked the latest incident of passengers being left behind since EES was brought in.

In April, some passengers due to fly from Milan Bergamo and Milan Linate to Manchester also missed their flights due to problems at passport control. The system obliges most travellers from outside the European Economic Area to register biometric data, including facial scans and fingerprints, which can then be checked each time they cross the borders of the Schengen free travel zone. Wizz Air has previously urged British holidaymakers to arrive at European airports three hours before their flight home departs due to lengthy queues caused by the new border checks.

'Rethink' needed"We urgently need full flexibility for border control authorities to suspend the EES whenever needed to avoid further chaos – along with a rethink of those processes," Schulte said. "This is about showing respect and decency for those who chose to travel to the EU, and safeguarding our reputation as a welcoming and efficient destination. "Earlier this year Greece's tourism minister said she did not want visitors to be "burdened" by bureaucratic procedures when entering or leaving the country.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.