The chief of the trade organization representing European airports has voiced intense frustration regarding the regional Entry-Exit System (EES). Stefan Schulte, who also serves as the head of the entity operating Frankfurt Airport, warned that officials must stop asserting the system is functioning correctly when it is clearly failing.
Introduced to modernize border security, the EES mandates that travelers from outside the EU provide biometric data—such as fingerprints and facial scans—upon entry. These records are subsequently verified during exit. While some regions report smooth operations, the policy has triggered substantial bottlenecks, forcing many passengers to miss their scheduled departures.
Schulte expressed deep concern over how major transit hubs will handle expected surges in passenger volume. He argued that authorities must be granted the flexibility to bypass the system during peak times to prevent logistical disasters. Furthermore, he noted that the current issues damage the image of Europe as an accommodating destination for international visitors.
Incidents of travelers being stranded have already been documented across various airports, including Athens, Milan Bergamo, and Milan Linate. Although some nations initially suggested possible exemptions for certain travelers, the European Commission has maintained that no formal plans exist to bypass these mandates. Carriers like Wizz Air have preemptively advised British tourists to reach the airport at least three hours early to mitigate the risks posed by these digital checkpoints.