Airports and Airlines Call for Immediate Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) Review Ahead of Peak Summer Months Traffic

ACI EUROPE (Airports Council International), A4E (Airlines for Europe), and IATA (International Air Transport Association) warned that the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) continues to cause significant delays for passengers. Failing immediate action to provide sufficient flexibility, severe disruptions over the peak summer months are a real prospect, with queues potentially reaching 4 hours or more.

Context
- Date: 11 February 2026
- Organizations involved: ACI EUROPE, Airlines for Europe (A4E), and IATA.
- Issue: The rollout of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing significant delays at border controls, with waiting times already reaching up to 2 hours.

Key Concerns
- Potential Summer Chaos: Without urgent changes, queues could stretch to 4+ hours during peak travel months (July–August).
- Three critical problems identified:
- Chronic border control understaffing.
- Technology issues with border automation.
- Low adoption of the Frontex pre-registration app.

Industry Demands
- Airports and airlines are asking the European Commission to:
- Allow Schengen states to suspend or relax EES requirements until October 2026.
- Provide flexibility in implementation to avoid massive disruptions.

Quote from Leaders
Olivier Jankovec (ACI EUROPE), Ourania Georgoutsakou (A4E), and Thomas Reynaert (IATA) jointly stated:
> “There is a complete disconnect between the perception of the EU institutions that EES is working well, and the reality, which is that non-EU travelers are experiencing massive delays and inconvenience. This must come to an end immediately.”

✨ Takeaway: The aviation industry is warning that unless the EU acts quickly, the EES rollout could severely damage Europe’s reputation as a smooth and welcoming travel destination during the busiest months of the year.