EU Entry/Exit System Causes Major Airport Delays

The European Union launched its Entry/Exit System (EES) on April 10 to strengthen border security by requiring non-EU travelers to provide fingerprints and facial images. The rollout has caused significant travel disruptions and operational chaos, particularly at Athens International Airport, due to technical glitches and hardware failures.

Data from Qsensor shows that peak waiting times doubled at several major hubs in July. Maximum waits reached 120 minutes at Frankfurt and Amsterdam airports, while queues at Munich airport rose to one hour. In response to these bottlenecks, Switzerland and eight EU countries have requested an extension of flexibility allowing airports to suspend certain checks during peak periods.

Airline executives have sharply criticized the system. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary described the system as misdesigned, while EasyJet Chief Kenton Jarvis urged airports to use common sense to avoid three-hour queues. The European Commission defended the system, stating the impact on most travelers is limited.

Amid these disruptions, the European Union has indefinitely postponed the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Originally planned for 2021 and later pushed to 2027, the system for visa-exempt travelers is not currently in operation, and no new launch date has been set.