EU border delays ‘not bearable’ over summer, warns airport boss

Sun Sep 06 2026 09:41:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Berlin Airport boss cautions that the EU’s new digital border system is causing up to two‑hour queues, threatening smoother summer travel.

The chief of Berlin Airport warned that travelers from outside the EU are forced into queues lasting up to two hours under the new Entry‑Exit System (EES). The design, which is meant to streamline border checks, has produced long waits and missed flights at multiple airports including Berlin. Passenger accounts, such as one from a family in Rome, highlighted how malfunctioning kiosks and inconsistent national implementations are driving frustration. Airlines and airport groups urge the European Commission to provide contingency measures, while the Commission insists efforts are being made to limit impact on travellers.

EU border delays ‘not bearable’ over summer, warns airport boss

Passengers waiting in long queues at Brussels Airport during summer 2026

The chief of Berlin Airport, Aletta von Massenbach, has said that non‑European Union nationals arriving in Berlin are facing queues that stretch to two hours under the new digital border system. She warned that such delays would become “unbearable over the summer” and highlighted the growing frustration among travelers.

The system, known as the Entry‑Exit System (EES), required travelers from outside the EU to register biometric data when entering countries, which is then checked upon departure. While the system began full operation in April, it has struggled to deliver on promises of smoother processing.

Reports have emerged that the implementation differs from country to country. Von Massenbach explained that numerous “sub‑systems” exist across member states, creating a complex environment that fails to support the intended efficient flow at borders. The technology has also impeded operations in the UK, particularly at the Port of Dover where French authorities’ kiosks are unable to activate.

‘I’m not going back to Europe’

A passenger from Scotland, Anne Robinson, captured a recent experience in Rome where she and her son were stuck in a 90‑minute queue, missing their flight home. She described the EES machines as largely out of order and announced a £250 cost for the replacement flight. The incident left her with no intention of returning to Europe that year.

Passenger complaints mirror the concerns of airlines. Airlines UK and Airlines for America noted inconsistent rollout and called for realistic contingency plans as the peak travel season approaches.

Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy criticized the policy’s implementation, urging that EES checks be paused where systems are not ready. He noted that such measures would improve the holidaymakers’ experience.

Airport lobbies, including ACI Europe, have written directly to the European Commission, warning that peak traffic could see queues of up to five hours, thereby forcing flights to depart with half‑empty gates.

The European Commission responded that efforts are underway to mitigate the impact for non‑EU travelers, noting that most airports face only limited issues and that member states lack adequate staff and infrastructure.