Travel industry fears summer disruption amid new biometric checks at European borders

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondentFebruary 5, 2026 at 04:13 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

The travel industry is concerned about potential summer disruptions due to the upcoming full implementation of the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires biometric registration for non-EU visitors. Travel leaders are urging the European Commission to allow border authorities to suspend the system if necessary to avoid excessive delays. Airports Council International (ACI) has reported significant delays, up to three hours, even with the current partial implementation, and fears queues could reach five hours during peak season. The UK travel association Abta is calling on the EU to ensure border staff utilize contingency measures to mitigate long waits at passport control. The EES is scheduled to fully launch on April 10th across 29 countries, potentially impacting British holidaymakers and other non-EU travelers at airports and border crossings.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Spain 30% France 30% Schengen Area 40% Abta 50% European Union 50% United Kingdom 60% Olivier Jankovec 60% ACI Europe 60% Airports Council International (ACI) 70% Europe 70% European Commission 80% Entry-Exit System (EES) ×690%

Keywords

entry-exit system (ees) 100% biometric checks 90% travel disruption 80% european borders 80% border control 70% airport queues 70% passenger experience 60% schengen area 50% travel industry 50%