Airport Chief Sounds Alarm on EU Border Delays This Summer

WHO:

BBC News - The head of Berlin's airport.

Al Jazeera - Airports Council International Europe, Airlines for Europe, International Air Transport Association, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, World Travel and Tourism Council, WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara.

WHAT:

BBC News - Holidaymakers face long waits under the EU's new Entry-Exit System.

Al Jazeera - Passengers are facing five-hour queues and departure gates are closing with planes only half-full.

Al Jazeera - The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has reached a “critical point” causing severe operational consequences.

Al Jazeera - The aviation sector warns that up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in visitor spending are at risk due to delays.

WHERE:

BBC News - Berlin's airport.

Al Jazeera - The Schengen Area.

WHEN:

Al Jazeera - The EU began rolling out the EES in October.

Al Jazeera - The European Commission announced that the EES was “fully operational” across the Schengen Area in April.

WHY:

Al Jazeera - The delays are undermining the reputation of the EU and European tourism.

Al Jazeera - The industry groups state that the current implementation of the EES is creating severe operational consequences and putting border authorities, airports, and airlines under unsustainable pressure.

HOW:

Al Jazeera - The EES records each traveller’s name, passport information, fingerprints, facial images, and their date and place of entry and exit.

Al Jazeera - The lobby groups urge EU member states to be granted the flexibility to “completely suspend” the new system whenever passenger numbers exceed the “operational capacity” of border facilities.

(UPDATED July 2, 2026 13:42 UTC)

Holidaymakers are facing long waits at Berlin's airport and across the Schengen Area due to the EU's new Entry-Exit System, with reports of five-hour queues and planes departing only half-full. The aviation sector warns that these delays could jeopardize up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in visitor spending, as the current implementation of the EES is creating severe operational challenges for border authorities, airports, and airlines. Industry groups are urging EU member states to have the flexibility to suspend the system when passenger numbers exceed the operational capacity of border facilities.