Airlines Warn of Four-Hour Border Queues in France Amid EU Entry/Exit System Rollout

Aviation Industry Sounds Alarm Over EES Implementation

Leading aviation organizations, including Airlines for Europe (A4E), Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), have collectively warned that France faces potential border queues of 'four hours or more' during the upcoming summer travel season. The concerns stem from the full implementation of the European Union's new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES), which is scheduled to be fully operational by April 10, 2026.

In a joint letter dispatched on February 11, 2026, to Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, the groups highlighted that the phased introduction of EES, which commenced in October 2025, has already led to 'persistent excessive waiting times of up to two hours' at airport border controls. These delays have been observed at key French hubs such as Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly, Nice, and the Eurostar terminal.

Understanding the Entry/Exit System (EES)

The EES is an advanced digital border control system designed to modernize and enhance the management of external borders across the 29 Schengen Area countries. It aims to replace the traditional manual stamping of passports for non-EU nationals with a digital record of entry and exit, incorporating biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images. The system applies to non-EU citizens, including British nationals, traveling for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Its primary objectives are to prevent irregular immigration, identify overstayers, reduce identity fraud, and strengthen internal security.

While the EES is intended to streamline processes in the long term, its initial rollout has been fraught with challenges. The system is separate from, but connected to, the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is expected to launch later in 2026.

Causes of Delays and Industry Concerns

The aviation bodies attribute the current and anticipated delays to several critical issues:

• Chronic border control understaffing: Despite the French interior ministry's claims of creating 2,000 additional border-police posts since 2024, unions report that only half are filled, and many agents are still undergoing training.
• Unresolved technology issues: Problems include faulty kiosks, software glitches, and a lack of full compatibility for France's Parafe e-gates with the EES until late March 2026.
• Limited uptake of pre-registration apps: A lack of widespread use of the Frontex pre-registration app by Schengen states means travelers cannot complete some checks before arriving at the border, exacerbating processing times.
• Increased processing times: Reports indicate that processing times have increased by up to 70% in some locations due to the added steps of biometric data collection.

The industry warns that without 'immediate action to provide sufficient flexibility,' the peak summer months, when traffic doubles, could see severe disruptions.

Calls for Flexibility and Future Outlook

In response to these concerns, the aviation groups have urged the European Commission to confirm that Schengen Member States will retain the ability to 'partially or totally suspend' the EES until the end of October 2026. They argue that while EU rules allow for temporary flexibility to manage long lines during peak travel periods, the current suspension mechanisms are set to expire beyond early July. The Commission has previously confirmed that member states can partially suspend EES checks for up to 90 days after the rollout, with a possible 60-day extension.

The industry also advocates for a common communications plan to encourage travelers to pre-register via the forthcoming EU mobile app, aiming to expedite the initial use of the gates. Travel industry stakeholders continue to advise passengers to anticipate longer processing times, especially during peak hours or at busy airports, and to plan accordingly.