ACI EUROPE urges EU to fix Entry/Exit System as business travel delays grow

24 Jun

Stefan Schulte, President of ACI EUROPE, has urged the European Union to overhaul its Entry/Exit System (EES), warning that the current border control process is creating unnecessary delays for travellers and risks significant disruption unless urgent improvements are made.

For UK business travellers, the warning is particularly significant. Since the EES applies to non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area, British travellers are among those affected by the new biometric border checks. Lengthy queues, repeated identity checks and inconsistent implementation can all add time to business journeys, increase the risk of missed flights and make onward travel less predictable.

Speaking at ACI EUROPE's 36th Annual Congress and General Assembly in Prague, Mr Schulte, who is also Chief Executive of Fraport, said the European Commission must stop treating the issue as though it has already been resolved and instead work with industry to improve the system.

Mr Schulte warned that the Entry/Exit System is "what keeps me and many other airport CEOs across Europe awake at night" and called on the European Commission to "stop pretending ... that EES is working just fine. It is not." He argued that airports and border authorities need greater operational flexibility to suspend or modify EES procedures when queues become excessive, rather than allowing passengers to experience lengthy and avoidable delays.

The Entry/Exit System requires non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area for the first time to register biometric information, including fingerprints and a facial image. Although designed to improve border security and replace manual passport stamping, airports across Europe have reported operational difficulties, with some passengers experiencing extended waiting times and, in some cases, missing flights because of processing delays. Industry bodies have warned that waiting times could reach several hours during peak travel periods if further improvements are not made.

Alongside his concerns about the EES, Mr Schulte called on the European Commission to develop an Aviation Strategy that strengthens Europe's competitiveness by enabling airports and airlines to invest, innovate, improve resilience and continue progress towards decarbonisation. He argued that aviation remains a critical driver of Europe's economy and international connectivity, but warned that unnecessary regulatory burdens and inefficient border processes risk undermining the passenger experience and Europe's attractiveness as a destination for business and investment.

Paul Baker, Sales Director of Global Travel Management, said:

"Business travellers value reliability just as much as speed. When border procedures introduce unnecessary delays and uncertainty, they can have a real impact on meetings, connections and productivity. We welcome calls for the European Union to improve the Entry/Exit System so that it delivers effective border security without creating avoidable disruption for legitimate business travellers."

The concerns raised by ACI EUROPE add to growing pressure from airports, airlines and other aviation organisations for the European Commission and Member States to refine the operation of the Entry/Exit System before further disruption affects passengers during busy travel periods. Industry leaders are not calling for the objectives of the scheme to be abandoned, but for it to be made more efficient, consistent and practical for travellers and border authorities alike.

If you would like further information about how changes to European border procedures could affect your business travel, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.