New European Border Control System Causes Long Delays and Flight Misses Amid Technical Issues

Since its full launch on April 10, the European Entry/Exit System (EES) has caused significant delays and technical problems at airports across the Schengen Area, which includes 29 countries such as 25 EU members plus Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. The system, designed to enhance border security by collecting biometric data like fingerprints and photos from non-Schengen visitors, aims to better monitor illegal immigration and terrorism threats. However, it has led to hours-long queues, missed flights, and passenger frustration, especially at busy airports like Rome, Lisbon, and Amsterdam.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) requested a suspension of the system during the summer peak travel season to avoid disruptions, but the European Commission rejected this, stating that halting the system now would create exit problems for travelers already registered. The delays are partly due to technical glitches and understaffing, with some travelers reporting smooth processing in minutes while others face waits of up to five hours. Israeli tourists in Europe have also experienced these mixed outcomes.

Tourism expert Yehuda Zafrani advises travelers to arrive at airports at least three hours before flights and to use European passports for entry when possible to speed up processing. He also recommends allowing at least two hours for connecting flights requiring border checks due to the biometric screening. The system does not provide exemptions from queues except for disabled passengers who can receive assistance.

The EES was approved in 2017 to address challenges in tracking visitors who enter and exit the Schengen zone at different points, aiming to identify overstayers more effectively. Despite a four-year delay in implementation, the system's rollout has been rocky, with airlines like Ryanair warning of tripled wait times. The European Commission notes that the initial heavy load is due to tens of millions of visitors registering for the first time, with biometric data stored for three years to facilitate faster future entries.

Some countries outside Schengen, like Ireland and Cyprus, do not use the system, and Italy has temporarily suspended it during extreme congestion, reverting to manual passport stamping for up to six hours at a time. Sweden and Portugal allow partial pre-registration via apps. Due to ongoing issues, the EU postponed the launch of the ETIAS pre-visa registration program, expected to start next year. As of early July, the EES recorded 110 million entries and exits and prevented 45,000 unauthorized entries. The European Commission emphasizes that the system protects EU citizens while minimizing impact on legitimate travelers.