EU countries can pause EES if necessary amid warnings of summer travel chaos

EU Schengen countries have the option to pause the new Entry/Exit System (EES) for up to six hours a day, until early September, to avoid travel chaos.

This clarification comes after Europe’s aviation industry warned of long queues expected to exceed four hours this summer.

The option to delay is already inbuilt into the system’s legal framework.

However, the official full implementation date remains 10th April.

In a recent joint letter to the European Commission, Airports Council International Europe, Airlines for Europe and International Air Transport Association warned that waiting times at border controls for non-EU travellers are reaching up to three hours and could potentially stretch to four or more hours during peak holiday times.

The rollout of the Schengen area’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires biometric checks for non-EU travellers, began in October. The digital system replaces passport stamps by electronically recording facial images, fingerprints, and travel dates at kiosks during the first visit, with identity verification required on subsequent trips. Registration is typically valid for three years, or until the passport expires, so subsequent trips should be faster once initial enrolment is complete. 

The Full implementation date is the 10th April.

The system covers 29 Schengen states, and Malaga airport was among the first to trial the scheme. Towards the end of the year, Ryan Air was warning its travellers to arrive at the airport up to three hours before their flight due to long passport queues.

According to ETIAS (the European Travel Information and Authorisation System), an EU Commission Spokesperson has clarified that Member states do have limited flexibility to partially suspend EES checks for six hours, for up to 90 days, with a possible 60 day extention, to manage summer congestion.

This means there is an option to delay EES until early September if necessary.

The measure is not an updated guideline but is inbuilt into the system's legal framework.

The official implementation date remains the 10th April, but given past extensions, a last minute change can't be ruled out. 

For now, it also remains the target date for the implementation of the Treaty.