EU border system causes chaos, aviation industry urges suspension

European airports and airlines are sounding the alarm over the new Entry/Exit System (EES), warning that queues of up to five hours and flights leaving half-empty are creating "severe operational consequences" just as the summer peak begins. In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, industry groups ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe, and IATA called for immediate intervention, urging that member states be allowed to completely suspend the digital border checks whenever passenger volumes exceed capacity Source: aljazeeraSource: theguardian.

Industry demands

The letter, published on 1 July, stresses that the current flexibility—allowing temporary suspension of biometric collection until September—is insufficient. The groups request:

• Complete suspension of EES during July and August when queues grow unmanageable Source: euronewsen.
• A permanent mechanism from September to suspend checks under exceptional circumstances Source: euronewsenSource: theguardian.

Broader impact

The disruption is already deterring travelers. The World Travel and Tourism Council warned that up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in visitor spending are at risk Source: aljazeera. Some countries have taken unilateral action: Greece suspended biometric checks for British tourists until September, while French police temporarily waived extra checks at the Port of Dover Source: theguardian. With 40 million more passengers expected in July and August, the groups warn conditions will worsen without urgent action Source: euronewsen. The EU has not yet responded to the letter.