Europe’s new Entry/Exit System is being temporarily switched off at congested hubs including Paris and Amsterdam to prevent severe summer queues, as airports and airlines struggle with long processing times for non-EU travellers. Air France-KLM has backed the practice at its French and Dutch hubs, while officials at Frankfurt, Brussels and Milan are also reported to be using it as biometric border checks disrupt peak-season traffic.
The system, which began phased introduction in October 2025 and took full effect on 10 April 2026, requires first-time biometric registration from non-EU passengers entering the Schengen area. Delays have been linked to technical faults, malfunctioning equipment, staff shortages and uneven implementation across border posts, with peak waits reaching two to three hours and, in some cases, up to five hours.
The European Commission has allowed border authorities at crowded crossings to suspend biometric collection temporarily until 6 September 2026. Nine European countries have sought an extension of that waiver beyond the current deadline, as the rollout continues to place pressure on airport operations and flight punctuality during the busy summer travel period.