Chaos at European airports as a new entry and exit system begins to be implemented
Brussels, April 14 (WAM) – European borders witnessed a state of chaos and confusion after the implementation of the new entry and exit system, which airlines criticized and described as a “systematic failure” that directly affected the movement of passengers through European Union airports.
The Entry and Exit System (EES) was officially launched on Friday, April 10, 2026 in all 29 countries of the Schengen Area. It is a digital system that relies on biometric data such as fingerprints and facial photos, and replaces the traditional passport stamp with an electronic recording of entry and exit movements and entry refusals.
Since the first day of the application, major disturbances were recorded at airports, as travelers faced long waiting lines that reached up to three hours, which led to flight delays and missed flights for a large number of passengers.
The two organizations, Airports Council International – Europe (ACI Europe) and Airlines for Europe (A4E), issued a joint statement in which they confirmed that the launch day witnessed “disruptions, delays and flight misses,” despite prior warnings of expected operational difficulties.
The “Airlines for Europe” organization stressed, in a later statement, that what happened could not be considered merely “initial problems”, but rather a “systematic failure” in implementing the system, noting that airlines were working to ensure that flights arrived on time, but what happened was beyond their control.
The organization called on the European Commission and member states to introduce immediate flexibility to the operation of the system, including the possibility of partial or complete suspension of it until the end of the summer if necessary.
Linate Airport in Milan witnessed great chaos on Sunday, as 156 passengers were scheduled to board an EasyJet plane heading to Manchester, but only 34 passengers were able to board, while 122 passengers were left behind after missing their flight due to long waits at border checkpoints.
For its part, EasyJet described the delays associated with the new system as “unacceptable,” calling on the border authorities to use the available flexibility to avoid further disruptions to travelers.
It is noteworthy that the new system applies to travelers from outside the European Union who go to Schengen countries for a short stay for a period not exceeding 90 days within a period of 180 days, as part of the Union’s efforts to enhance border security, amid growing concerns about its impact on the smooth flow of travel.
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