Passengers may wait in queues more than 4 hours this summer
Brussels, February 15, 2026
Passengers could stand in queues for four hours or more this summer if the causes of delays in the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) are not resolved, airlines and airports warn.
Three industry groups warned the European Commission the rollout of EU’s new entry/exit is causing excessive delays at border control and could worsen during the summer peak.
ACI EUROPE (Airports Council International), A4E (Airlines for Europe), and IATA (International Air Transport Association) urge the Commission to resolve this issue.
In a letter to EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, industry groups say travellers face waiting periods of up to two hours under current rules requiring 35 percent of non-EU nationals entering the Schengen zone to be registered.
They cite three main problems: staff shortages at border control, unresolved technology issues with automated systems, and limited use of the Frontex pre-registration app by member states.
