New EU border system causes significant delays at major airports

Major European airports are experiencing a sharp increase in passenger wait times this summer, following the chaotic implementation of the European Union's new Entry-Exit System (EES). Data from travel analytics group Qsensor indicates that maximum wait times in Frankfurt have doubled to 120 minutes compared to last year. Munich saw delays increase from 31 to 60 minutes, while Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport recorded a rise from 80 to 120 minutes.

Implemented in April, the EES requires travelers from the United Kingdom and other non-EU countries to register personal data, including digital photographs and fingerprints, upon their first arrival. The travel industry had previously warned that the system could lead to significant congestion and operational bottlenecks, as airports struggle to process passengers efficiently under the new mandates. Critics argue that the EU’s planning for the system did not adequately account for the logistical challenges of high-volume travel periods.

Authorities are currently grappling with the backlog, which has raised concerns regarding the manageability of border control processes for future travel peaks. As airports continue to face these operational hurdles, the situation remains a point of tension between infrastructure capacity and the EU’s new security requirements.