European Airports Warn Biometric Entry System May Cause Summer Travel Delays

European airports are warning that the new EU biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) may struggle to handle the expected surge of millions of travelers this summer. The EES, fully operational since April 2026, replaces manual passport stamping with digital registration including facial photos and fingerprints for non-EU travelers entering and exiting the Schengen Area. However, since its launch, the system has faced operational challenges, causing long queues and requiring additional staff at various airports.

The head of Rome's airport operator, managing Fiumicino and Ciampino airports, issued a stark warning that during peak periods, biometric checks might need to be temporarily suspended to avoid "operational disaster." He emphasized that the system is not yet equipped to handle summer passenger volumes, and airports are "very concerned" about the coming months. The biometric data collection, especially fingerprinting first-time travelers, is identified as the main bottleneck, with Frontex estimating it could take up to two years for the process to stabilize.

Other European countries are also preparing for potential delays. Portugal plans to increase security staff at airports starting in July to help manage passenger flow. Greece has expressed similar concerns and considered temporarily easing checks for some travelers, though this was not implemented. The European Airports Association has called the EES rollout one of the biggest challenges facing the industry ahead of the busy travel season.

For Israeli travelers heading to Europe this summer, the advice is to arrive at airports earlier than usual, especially for flights to busy destinations like Italy, Greece, France, and Spain, as entry procedures may take significantly longer than before.