European airports and airlines call for EES overhaul amid long border delays

Airlines for Europe and Airports Council International have demanded a rethink of the European Entry System (EES) after it was introduced on 12 October 2025 and fully implemented in April 2026.

Waiting times at Schengen external border crossings can reach up to five hours at peak traffic and routinely exceed two hours, with particularly severe delays at certain airports in Italy and Spain; the EES has recorded almost 230 million entries and exits and has refused 80 000 entries, including 2 000 due to security threats.