BRUSSELS — Border control wait times have skyrocketed as Europe’s airports grapple with the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) – and that has industry groups calling on the European Commission for a solution, fast, for the busy summer months.

Since its rollout in April 2026 the EES has seen border control slowdowns at airports across the continent. With wait times during peak traffic periods at some airports hitting upwards of 5 hours, “we have reached a critical point,” said Airports Council International (ACI) Europe in an open letter to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, sent yesterday, July 1, the official kickoff to summer travel.

“The current implementation of the EES is creating severe operational consequences disrupting passengers and putting border authorities, airports and airlines under unsustainable pressure,” said ACI Europe.

The group urges von der Leyden and the EC’s “immediate intervention” before the situation deteriorates further during the peak summer travel season.

One possible solution put forth by ACI Europe: Give member states the flexibility needed to completely suspend EES, at least for the busy months of July and August.

Some airports including Rome (FCO) have threatened to suspend EES during the busy summer months in a last-ditch effort to alleviate mounting delays.

The group also wants permanent operational flexibility to allow Border Control Authorities to suspend EES procedures under exceptional circumstances.

The EES chaos has arisen despite member states making “extensive use” of the temporary flexibility allowing Border Control Authorities to suspend the collection of biometric data until the beginning of September, said ACI Europe. “While this measure has provided some relief, it has not prevented excessive queues for passengers nor preserved airport and airline operations.”

ACI Europe said EES-related delays are impacting millions of passengers entering the Schengen Area, including families travelling with young children, elderly passengers and persons with reduced mobility. At the same time, airports and airlines are experiencing growing operational disruption, including flight delays and missed connections and increasing pressure on frontline staff.

During July and August alone, European airports are expected to handle approximately 40 million more passengers than during the previous two months.

“The Commission and Member States must take stock of the reality of the current situation and of what our air transport system will face over the coming weeks. Without additional flexibility, existing challenges will inevitably intensify. As representatives of Europe’s aviation sector, we have a responsibility to warn that this would result in a significant worsening of an already very difficult situation for passengers.”

ACI Europe added that smaller airports serving major tourism destinations are equally affected. Passengers have already faced lineups for extended periods outside terminal buildings and on exposed aprons because border control facilities cannot process arrivals quickly enough. Airlines face half-empty planes at gate closing time, while passengers are stuck in border control lines.

ACI Europe said the situation is about more than airport flow, pointing to reports suggesting that some international travellers are reconsidering trips to Europe because of the prospect of excessive border delays.

“Europe must remain a destination that is not only secure but also efficient, welcoming and competitive,” said ACI Europe.

The group also pushed back against the EC’s stance that EES implementation has been successful. A spokesperson for the EC was recently quoted saying the EES was fully operational and working well [and that] most often long waiting times are not related to the operation of the EES but to pre-existing factors such as concentration of flights in specific slots.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is also calling for EES without disrupting travel.

The WTTC said it recognizes the importance of modernizing border systems and strengthening security across Europe – “providing the adopted system has adequate flexibility, reliable equipment, sufficient staffing and traveller communication. Without these, there is a risk of operational bottlenecks that could undermine the visitor experience and Europe’s global competitiveness as a destination.”

If the EES issues aren’t addressed, said the WTTC, Europe could be at a “clear disadvantage” compared to other global destinations offering faster, more seamless entry processes.

Recent WTTC analysis, based on research among more than 2,500 travellers across key long and short-haul markets to Europe, indicates that consistent border waits of three or more hours could significantly deter demand, with around one-third of travellers saying they would be less likely to visit the Schengen area.

Applied to 2026 forecasts, this could place up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in potential visitor spending in Europe at risk.

WTTC is calling for three key actions: accelerate the uptake of the Travel to Europe app for digital EES pre-registration; a communication campaign in key source markets so travellers understand the new border requirements before departure; and guarantee full operational readiness at borders through adequate staffing, reliable equipment and streamlined processes.

“EES represents an important step towards smarter, more secure borders for Europe. But implementation must be practical, coordinated and traveller focused. If lengthy delays become accepted practice, travellers will look elsewhere. Europe cannot afford to compromise its competitiveness or the experience it offers millions of visitors. We encourage policymakers to work closely with industry to ensure the system delivers on its promise of better borders without creating unintended barriers to travel,” said Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC.