ACI EUROPE has called on the European Commission, eu-LISA, Frontex and Schengen Member States to urgently address serious operational problems linked to the rollout of the Schengen Entry-Exit System (EES), which began on 12 October 2025.
Airports report border processing times up to 70% longer, with waiting times reaching three hours during peak periods, significantly degrading the passenger experience. Airports in France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal and Spain are among the most affected.
According to ACI EUROPE, the disruption stems from multiple unresolved issues, including frequent system outages, incomplete or unavailable self-service biometric kiosks, limited access to Automated Border Control gates, the absence of a functional pre-registration app, and insufficient border guard staffing.
Director General Olivier Jankovec warned that congestion will intensify as the EES registration threshold rises from 10% to 35% on 9 January, potentially causing systemic disruption and safety risks. While reaffirming support for the EES objectives, ACI EUROPE stressed that, unless the system stabilises within weeks, greater flexibility in the rollout will be essential to avoid widespread operational failure.