Overview
- Airports Council International Europe, Airlines for Europe and IATA have written to EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner warning that queues could reach four hours during the summer peak without immediate flexibility in the Entry/Exit System rollout.
- The groups report persistent waits of up to two hours at some border checkpoints during the progressive deployment, citing Geneva, the Canary Islands and Lisbon as recent trouble spots.
- They identify three main causes of delays: chronic understaffing at border control, unresolved automation and technical issues, and limited adoption of Frontex’s pre‑registration app by Schengen states.
- The letter seeks formal confirmation that member states may partially or fully suspend the system through October 2026 to manage peak traffic.
- The European Commission says the system is operating largely without issues, noting 23 million recorded movements, a progressive rollout ending April 9, and legal options for a 90‑day suspension plus a 60‑day extension that could run into September.