European Airport Chaos Expected to Worsen as Border System Changes

Missed connecting flights in European airports doubled over the summer, with some airlines seeing up to a sixfold increase, due to border control queues lasting one to two hours during peak times. These figures emerged as a temporary emergency measure allowing Schengen countries to suspend biometric data collection during unusual congestion was set to expire. The aviation industry now fears worsening delays with the removal of this "safety valve."

The core issue is the Entry/Exit System (EES), a biometric border control system for non-EU citizens, including Israelis on short stays, which became operational in April. It replaces passport stamps with digital records, including facial scans and fingerprints. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), passport checks that previously took 20-25 seconds now require about 90 seconds, creating bottlenecks at major hubs like Frankfurt, Munich, and Amsterdam.

Nine countries, including Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, requested an extension of the suspension mechanism from the European Commission. However, as of this morning, the Commission had not officially granted an extension, despite inconsistent implementation across border points due to technical difficulties.

For Israeli travelers, the main impact is on connections requiring entry into the Schengen Area upon first arrival, such as in Frankfurt. An additional hour in line could lead to missed flights. Industry experts now advise against planning itineraries based on the minimum possible connection times.