Countries are no longer allowed to suspend EEC operations during peak hours – will there be queues?

European countries will no longer be able to suspend the biometric entry/exit system (EES) at their borders under new rules, raising fears that queues at airports could get worse this autumn.

The new EES system was launched almost a year ago with a partial rollout in October 2025, before being fully rolled out in the Schengen area in April 2026.

The system requires people entering and leaving the travel zone, which includes most EU countries and some other European countries, to provide biometric information such as fingerprints and a photograph when they first enter and then undergo a quick biometric check.

Due to the nature of the system, which included installing new kiosks and equipment, training staff and registering passengers on first entry, tourism organizations were concerned that teething problems could lead to widespread travel delays across the bloc.

Earlier this summer, several European countries reported delays following the initial rollout of EES. The trade association Airports Council International (ACI) said wait times had increased significantly, reaching five hours during peak times in July.

As a result, European countries have been given the right to temporarily suspend EES operations in worst-case scenarios, such as when queues at airports become unmanageable.

However, this flexibility is no longer available and Schengen states must now ensure compliance with the EES for all “third country nationals” entering and leaving, including UK nationals.

It is unclear which airports used the flexibility rule to suspend EES or during what parts of the summer it was put into effect. BBC News said Portuguese airports including Lisbon, Faro and Porto had reportedly used flexible suspensions this summer.

Frontex chief Uku Särekanno previously clarified that there is “no intention” of any further relaxation of EES rules after September.

Tourism organizations have criticized the EU for implementing the EES and have called for changes to make the process smoother while the industry and passengers adapt to the changes.

Thomas Reinart, head of external affairs at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), disagrees with the EU’s decision to end flexibility after the end of the summer period.

“IATA’s position remains unchanged: the temporary EES flexibility measures should be reinstated until at least the end of the winter season and until remaining operational issues are resolved,” he said in a statement to Independent.

“This includes stable system operation and full deployment of supporting infrastructure and personnel.”

Mr Reinart said IATA fully supported the objectives of the EES, but considered it premature to remove the “safety valve” before the system could operate reliably across Europe.

He added that it was unclear how many countries used the flexibility rule in the summer due to a lack of visible data, but called for closer cooperation between the EU Commission, member states, airports, airlines and authorities for a “more coordinated approach” to EES.

He outlined certain actions that could be taken to smooth the process, such as encouraging travelers to complete pre-registration procedures remotely to reduce processing times at the border and reduce delays.

In an open letter to EU President Ursula von der Leyen published in early July, ACI Europe said the EES was creating “unsustainable pressure” and called for immediate intervention before the situation deteriorates further.

The ACI asked whether, from September, border control authorities would be able to suspend EES procedures in exceptional circumstances.

Airlines such as Ryanair have also made separate calls asking for the flexibility rule to be extended until early 2027.

Ryanair says this will give airports and border authorities the time needed to refurbish kiosks, increase staffing levels and ensure the system operates effectively.

Independent has contacted the European Commission for comment.

Read more: 10 European countries that do not have an EEA for the 2026 holidays