Photo: Shutterstock Three of the main bodies in the European aviation and infrastructure industry issued a sharp letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday (July 1, 2026), warning of a serious operational crisis at Schengen entry points following the implementation of the biometric Entry/Exit System (EES). Just recently, the United Nations World Tourism Organization published a similar letter.
The letter, signed by the Association of European Airlines (A4E), the European Airports Association (ACI Europe) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), claims that since the system was launched in April, there have been significant delays in border checks, sometimes up to 5 hours during peak hours.
According to the signatories, the delays are affecting millions of passengers, including families, the elderly and people with disabilities, and are causing widespread operational disruptions: flight delays, missed connections and a heavy burden on ground and border staff.
European Union Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: ShutterstockThe organizations warn that the crisis is expected to worsen significantly during the peak summer months, when about 40 million more passengers are expected to pass through European airports than in previous months. They claim that small airports in tourist areas are also affected, with passengers forced to wait outside the terminals due to the inability to process arrivals quickly.
The letter also claims that the Commission's position, according to which the system works well and the delays are mainly due to flight scheduling, does not correspond to the reality on the ground. The signatories emphasize that flight schedules are determined in advance, and therefore the implementation of the system must be adjusted to actual passenger volumes.
Among the key demands: the possibility of temporarily suspending the EES system during exceptional loads, especially in July-August, and the establishment of a permanent mechanism for operational flexibility in extreme cases. In addition, the organizations call for the completion of the deployment of self-service stations, early registration applications, and improved stability of digital systems.
According to them, the goal is not to eliminate border controls, but rather to temporarily return to traditional checks when necessary. including passport stamps, to prevent the collapse of Schengen entry processes during the peak season.