Airlines and Airports Call for Suspension of EU Biometric Border Checks
European airlines and airports have formally requested that the European Union's new biometric border check system be suspended during the peak summer holiday period, warning that it is causing severe delays and forcing some flights to depart with empty seats.
In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, industry groups representing airports and airlines said the current implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES) has reached a "critical point." They reported that passengers have been forced to queue for extended periods outside terminal buildings and on exposed aprons, with some queues stretching up to five hours at peak times. The groups added that airlines are facing half-empty planes at gate closing time, while passengers remain stuck in border control queues.
The letter was signed by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, which represents airports, and Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represent carriers. They urged the Commission to allow airports to "completely suspend" the checks whenever passenger volumes exceed the operational capacity of border control facilities during July and August.
"We have reached a critical point," the groups wrote. "Passengers have already been forced to queue for extended periods outside terminal buildings and on exposed aprons because border control facilities cannot process arrivals quickly enough."
They called for "immediate intervention before the situation deteriorates further during the peak summer travel season," warning that border authorities, airports, and airlines are under "unsustainable pressure." The groups noted that European airports are expected to handle 40 million more passengers in July and August than in the previous two months, and without additional flexibility, existing challenges will inevitably intensify.
Background of the EES
The Entry/Exit System, which began rolling out gradually in October, requires non-EU citizens to register with fingerprints and a photograph upon arrival at their destination airport. The system is designed to replace passport stamping and record each traveller's name, passport information, biometrics, and date and place of entry and exit.
However, the rollout has faced significant operational difficulties. Greece has suspended biometric checks for British travellers until September to prevent summer disruption. In May, French police also temporarily suspended the extra checks at the port of Dover, according to reports.
Industry Perspective
Industry representatives have stressed that the situation is unsustainable and that immediate action is needed. They argue that without the flexibility to suspend the checks during peak periods, the travel experience will significantly worsen for passengers during the busiest weeks of the year.
The letter explicitly warns that "the current implementation of the EES is creating severe operational consequences, disrupting passengers and putting border authorities, airports and airlines under unsustainable pressure."
The groups conclude that EU leaders "must take stock of the reality of the current situation and of what our air transport system will face over the coming weeks" and that "without additional flexibility, existing challenges will inevitably intensify."