Airports demand suspension of new EU border system during summer season: 'This is chaos, planes are flying half-empty'

Airlines and airports are calling for the suspension of the European Union's new biometric border control system during the crucial summer tourist season, citing widespread chaos and operational failures. Industry groups, including ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), have sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, requesting the temporary halt of the Entry-Exit System (EES).

The groups argue that the system, which requires non-EU citizens to register fingerprints and a photograph upon arrival, is causing unprecedented delays. Passengers face queues of up to five hours, leading to flights departing with significant numbers of empty seats as boarding deadlines pass. Some flights have been delayed waiting for passengers stuck in border control lines, while others have had to leave passengers behind.

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We have reached a critical point. Passengers are already forced to wait for a long time in front of terminal buildings and on exposed platforms, as border controls cannot process arrivals quickly enough. Airlines are facing half-empty planes at the time of gate closure, while passengers are stuck in queues at border control.

"We have reached a critical point," the industrial groups stated. They highlighted that border authorities, airports, and airlines are under "unsustainable pressure." The letter urges "urgent intervention before the situation deteriorates further during the peak of the summer tourist season." The situation has already led to some flights being forced to postpone departures while waiting for passengers, and some aircraft leaving without a full complement of travelers.

This plea follows similar concerns raised by airport officials in Rome and Greece's decision to suspend biometric checks for British passengers until September to mitigate summer congestion. The industrial groups warn that the potential for excessively long border waits is deterring international travelers from visiting Europe, damaging the continent's reputation, tourism, and connectivity. They are seeking flexibility for airports to "completely suspend" checks when passenger volume exceeds border control capacity during July and August.

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Some international travelers are considering abandoning trips to Europe due to the possibility of excessively long border delays.