Following the European Union (EU)’s rollout of its Entry/Exit System (EES) for travelers, some may experience delayed wait times at airports in the region. The EU’s new travel system started rolling out on October 12.
In 29 European countries, the EES requires those entering and exiting those borders for short stays to go through a new process. It requires providing biometric data and the “date and place” of each of the traveler’s entries and exits. Earlier this month, the Independent reported that certain airports with a limited number of kiosks compared to their traffic of passengers could experience congestion.
According to the source, the EU-based airports where travelers may experience delays are Paris Charles de Gaulle in France, Faro International Airport in Portugal, Palma de Mallorca Airport in Spain, and Heraklion International Airport in Crete, Greece. Reportedly, early morning arrivals may experience the most congestion going through the EES at those flight hubs. Additionally, early afternoon arrivals at Milan Malpensa Airport could also pose slow EES times.
The publication added that travelers going through the EES may additionally experience delays at flight hubs serving Frankfurt, Germany, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
What Else Should Travelers Know About The EU’s EES At Airports?
The EU anticipates the EES being fully rolled out by April 2026. A chief executive at London-based travel agency Advantage Travel Partnership, Julia Lo Bue-Said, reportedly spoke to BBC’s Today about how travelers should navigate the EU’s new travel system for the best outcomes.
“Make sure, where possible, you’re leaving yourself between three and four hours from the point of entry,” Bue-Said noted, per the Independent. “If you’re not leaving yourself enough time and you unfortunately arrive at an airport where there is a bottleneck, which in a lot of places there are already, this is going to add another layer of frustration and delay.”
