EU border delays spike

Europe’s new biometric border system is slowing passport control across the Schengen area, with some airport queues stretching to three hours. (europa.eu) The Entry/Exit System became fully operational on April 10, 2026, after a phased rollout that began on October 12, 2025. It now applies at the external borders of 29 European countries using the system. (europa.eu) The system replaces passport stamps for short-stay non-European Union travelers with digital records of entry, exit, or refusal of entry. Border authorities collect a traveler’s name, travel-document details, facial image, and fingerprints. (europa.eu) Those first-time biometric checks are taking longer than many airports expected. Airports Council International Europe and Airlines for Europe said on April 10 that the first day of full operations brought passenger disruptions, delays, and missed flights. (aci-europe.org) In Milan, an easyJet flight to Manchester left with only 34 of 156 booked passengers after border queues trapped the rest at passport control, according to reports cited by airlines and broadcasters. The BBC reported that about 100 passengers were left behind at Linate Airport after waits of up to three hours. (bbc.co.uk) In Rome, lines at Fiumicino Airport at times stretched outside the terminal building, according to Stefano Paoloni, secretary-general of Italy’s Autonomous Police Union, speaking to Politico. Politico also reported flights departing with dozens of passengers still stuck in line. (politico.eu) European officials say the system is meant to tighten border management and automatically detect travelers who overstay the 90-days-in-180 rule. The European Commission said more than 45 million border crossings were registered during the rollout period before full operation began. (europa.eu) Airports and airlines want Brussels to let countries partially suspend biometric collection when waits become excessive. The European Commission’s response has been that member states are responsible for making the system work on the ground. (aci-europe.org) (politico.eu) For travelers, the immediate change is simple: non-European Union passengers on short stays now face a digital border check that can take much longer on a first trip under the new rules. For border agencies, the test is whether those extra minutes can be cut before the summer rush. (europa.eu)