EU Airports Call for EES Review as Non-EU Travelers Face Up to Five-Hour Border Delays

EU Airports and Airlines Call for Urgent EES Review Amid Severe Delays

Airlines for Europe (A4E) and Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe) have formally requested the EU to review its Entry/Exit System (EES). Launched a year ago, the EES was designed to streamline border checks for non-EU citizens by replacing manual passport stamps with a digital registration system.

However, instead of simplifying the process, the EES has led to significant operational disruptions. Major border points, particularly large airports on Schengen's external borders, are experiencing delays of up to five hours, prompting calls for an urgent re-evaluation of the system.

Impact on Non-EU Travelers and Advice for Planning

This situation directly affects non-EU citizens, including those with passports from countries like Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, who frequently travel to or from the Schengen Area. Each entry and exit through a Schengen external border now carries the risk of substantial delays.

As Denmark is located on the external border of the Schengen Area, travelers flying into or out of the country should be prepared for potential EES-related queues. It is strongly advised to factor in additional buffer time when planning international travel and to check the current status of specific border crossing points before departure, as information on delays can change.

• The EES has been operational for a year, but border delays reaching five hours indicate a systemic problem, not a temporary glitch, according to airport and airline associations.
• Non-EU citizens should anticipate significant wait times for each entry and exit through Schengen borders; plan your trips with potential queues in mind.
• Travelers to or from Denmark, an external Schengen border country, are directly affected by EES; while delay information varies, the trend of longer wait times persists.