Airports and airlines in the European Union (EU) warned, this Monday, of waiting times of more than two hours at border controls for citizens of third countries during Easter week.
These expected delays are due to “operational problems” with the implementation of the new European access mechanism.
The new European Entry/Exit System (EES), for digital registration of foreign citizens entering the Schengen Area, will complete its implementation phase on April 9, and it is mandatory for Member States to register 100% of non-EU citizens by March 31.
The rollout “is ending precisely at the peak of travel during the Easter holidays”, warned European airport association ACI Europe and airline industry association A4E in a joint statement released on Monday.
“We reiterate our call on the European Commission and Member States to extend the possibility of full or partial suspension of the EES – when operationally necessary – throughout the 2026 summer season,” they emphasized.
New registration system for foreign citizens increases waiting times
It is which began to be implemented in Schengen Area countries in October 2025, included, during these six months, the safeguard that, in periods of greater flow of travelers, border control authorities can enable partial and full system suspensionbut from April 9th, the end date of the EES transition period, the total suspension cannot be applied.
Airports and airlines have indicated that, with the implementation of this suspension, waiting times are already reaching “two hours at peak times, and some airports are experiencing even longer queues”.
The waiting time at border control at Lisbon airport reached a peak this Sunday two hours for those who arrived at 8:30 am, but in the meantime it decreased to less than an hour, according to PSP and ANA.
Contacted by the Lusa agency following reports from passengers indicating that they had arrived in Lisbon at 06:00 and at 11:00 they were still waiting in the border control queue, an official source from ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal indicated that “the maximum waiting time for arrivals at Humberto Delgado Airport reached two hours, with a peak recorded at 08:30”.
ACI and A4E warn of the risk of “the situation gets worse” due to the requirement for 100% registration of third country citizens from March 31st and the end of the transition period on April 9th.
“The combination of the full registration requirement and reduced operational flexibility is expected to place unprecedented pressure on border control operations,” they stated.
“We reiterate our call on the European Commission and Member States to extend the possibility of full or partial suspension of the EES – when operationally necessary – throughout the 2026 summer season,” they emphasized.
According to these organizations, operational problems also arise from “persistent and structural shortages of border control personnel, technical and maintenance problems at self-service kiosks and the limited use of automated border controls”.
