Chaos at European airports! How is this related to the new EES system, and what challenges are passengers facing?

Planning a trip to Europe? Be prepared for hours-long lines at the border. The elimination of passport stamps and the launch of the new Electronic Entry System (EES) have caused a major backup at airports across the EU. Find out why this chaos has occurred and how to avoid problems on your trip

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European airports are facing an unprecedented surge in traffic: passengers are forced to wait for hours at border control. The cause of this transportation gridlock is the full-scale launch of the EU’s new electronic border control system (Entry/Exit System, or EES). The situation is already causing serious concern among aviation industry representatives, who predict the situation will worsen ahead of the summer vacation season, writes the Financial Times.

What is happening at European airports?

Currently, airports in 15 European countries are experiencing very serious delays. The problem has affected both small regional airports and the largest hubs in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Greece. According to the Airports Council International (ACI), passengers are forced to wait up to three hours to clear customs.

The situation is further complicated by external factors. The transportation sector is facing additional pressure due to the risk of an aviation fuel shortage. This is linked to the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the tense military situation in the Middle East.

“The situation in the coming weeks and, undoubtedly, during the peak summer months will become simply unmanageable,” warns Olivier Jankovec, director of ACI’s European division.

According to him, critical queues are already forming during peak hours, even though the global seasonal increase in passenger traffic is just beginning.

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What is the EES system and how does it work?

Rumors of upcoming changes first emerged in September 2025, when the European Union announced new rules for crossing its borders. The main innovation is the complete elimination of traditional passport stamps.

The EES system was introduced to replace paper stamps. It requires mandatory registration of personal data and the submission of biometric data (face and fingerprint scans) for citizens of non-EU countries, including Ukrainians, during their first entry into the bloc. Going forward, these procedures are to be carried out automatically during every entry and exit.

The launch of this large-scale project has been postponed multiple times. Polish border guards were the first to launch the procedure in test mode in the fall of 2025. Then, starting in October, the system began to be gradually rolled out across the European Union, and last Friday it went into full operation.

Why are there massive lines at the EU border?

Despite a lengthy preparation and testing period, the aviation industry has faced serious structural issues that have led to chaos. Airport representatives cite three main causes of the delays:

First, the automated kiosks for passenger check-in and biometric data collection regularly malfunction.

Second, the system’s central IT infrastructure periodically experiences major outages, paralyzing checkpoint operations. Third, border services suffer from a chronic staff shortage, meaning there is simply no one available to promptly resolve technical delays as they arise.

The Airports Council International (ACI) emphasizes that while check-in proceeds quickly during off-peak hours, during peak times the procedure can take up to five minutes per passenger due to malfunctions. In light of this, ACI representatives have already appealed to the European Commission to allow the complete suspension of biometric checks during periods of critical delays.

How is the European Commission responding to flight delays?

The official position of European authorities differs drastically from the assessments of airport management. The European Commission states that the EES system “works very well,” and the vast majority of EU member states are not experiencing any critical issues.

According to official statistics from Brussels, the average check-in time per passenger is about 70 seconds. Officials acknowledge the existence of local technical difficulties but describe them as expected and normal for the initial phase of such a large-scale digital system.

To confirm the system’s effectiveness, the European Commission cites figures: since the start of its phased rollout in October 2025, over 52 million border crossings have been successfully registered through the system. At the same time, approximately 27,000 people were denied entry, of whom 700 posed a potential threat to the security of the European Union.

Amid constant schedule changes, sudden flight cancellations, and transportation strikes, planning your own itinerary can be a real challenge. To minimize risks and save yourself the stress, use the ticket booking service on the Visit Ukraine portal.

Reminder! Romania is gradually connecting its border crossings with Ukraine to the new European Entry-Exit System (EES). Travelers will now face additional procedures, such as passport scanning, photo collection, and biometric data collection, but subsequent trips will be faster thanks to automatic identification. Find out how the EES system is changing the rules for Ukrainians crossing the border.

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