German Airports Criticize Long EU Border Control Wait Times

German airports are facing significant challenges with extended waiting times at border control following the implementation of the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES). The German Airport Association (ADV) has voiced strong criticism, stating that passenger processing times for travelers from non-Schengen countries have increased dramatically.

Aletta von Massenbach, president of ADV and CEO of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, told the German news agency dpa that the delays have become "unacceptably long," reaching up to two hours at some airports. The EES, introduced in October 2025, aims to modernize border controls by requiring biometric data, such as fingerprints and photos, along with passport information from non-Schengen citizens. This process, intended to enhance security against terrorism and crime, is reportedly taking considerably longer than previous procedures.

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unacceptably long waiting times

The ADV president highlighted that the primary bottlenecks stem from the time-consuming biometric data collection during initial border crossings and the lack of digital pre-registration for passenger data. Airports are calling on the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Police to fully utilize existing flexibility measures. According to EU regulations, biometric data collection can be temporarily suspended if excessively long queues form.

Airports are pushing for digital solutions, such as a preparatory app for travelers, to be prioritized. While the EU Commission states that such a smartphone application is available to help travelers prepare for checks, it has so far only been adopted by Sweden and Portugal. German and other travelers from the Schengen area are not affected by these new EES procedures.

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The biggest bottlenecks arise from the time-consuming biometric data collection during the first border crossing and the lack of digital pre-registration of passenger data.