In a letter addressed to the European Commission, Airports Council International (ACI) said that since the implementation of the EES in April, waiting times at border control have increased, reaching up to five hours. It added that such delays lead to flight delays, missed boardings, and added pressure on vulnerable travellers, including children, older passengers, and people with reduced mobility.
Addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the letter calls for the temporary suspension of the permanent operational flexibility mechanism, alongside additional measures to manage exceptional circumstances by September.
ACI argues that the system, which records the entries and exits of non-EU travellers across the 29 countries participating in the Schengen Area, is already causing significant disruption and placing airports, airlines, and border authorities under "unsustainable pressure." It warns that the situation is likely to worsen as European airports prepare for an estimated 40 million additional passengers compared with May and June.
The appeal comes despite a recent statement from a European Commission spokesperson insisting that the system is fully functional. ACI maintains, however, that the success of the EES "cannot be measured solely by its technical deployment", arguing that the system is currently failing to achieve its aim of making border crossings more efficient.
While continuing to support the objectives of the EES, the organisation says the programme must better reflect the operational realities faced by airports and border authorities to ensure it functions effectively in practice.
