EUROPE — Germany and France experienced the longest airport queues linked to Europe's new automated border control procedures during summer 2026, according to data published by European air traffic management organisation Eurocontrol on October 30.
The findings highlight the operational challenges associated with the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES), which introduces biometric registration for eligible travellers from outside the EU and Schengen area.
Although the system raised concerns across the aviation industry before the peak summer season, Eurocontrol said its overall impact on the European aviation network remained limited and gradually declined as the summer progressed.
Germany and France Recorded the Biggest Impact
Eurocontrol examined six European countries with significant summer air traffic: Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Portugal.
Germany experienced the most significant increase in delays associated with immigration, customs and health authorities, followed by France.
Between June and August 2026, the share of passengers affected by so-called Code 86 delays increased by 5.3 percentage points in Germany and 4.2 percentage points in France compared with the same period in 2025.
The figures indicate that the effects of the new border procedures were not evenly distributed across Europe, with the greatest disruption concentrated in Germany and France.
EES Biometric Checks Behind the Queues
The Entry/Exit System is designed to digitally register the entry and exit of eligible non-EU nationals travelling to and from the Schengen area for short stays.
Instead of relying solely on passport stamps, the system records travel-document information and biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints.
The aim is to strengthen border management, improve the identification of overstays and modernise checks at Europe's external borders.
However, the additional registration procedures have increased processing demands at some airports, particularly during busy travel periods.
Morning Hours Saw More Pressure
Eurocontrol identified the period between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. as a particularly challenging time for border processing.
This period coincides with substantial passenger movements at many European airports, increasing pressure on immigration facilities and automated registration equipment.
Technical problems, the time needed to register biometric information and the availability of border-control staff also contributed to the difficulties reported during the summer.
Conditions Improved Towards the End of Summer
Eurocontrol described the results across the six countries as mixed throughout the summer.
June saw a pronounced deterioration, while July produced mixed results. By August, some improvements had been recorded compared with 2025.
The organisation said the overall impact on the European aviation network was limited and declined as the peak summer season progressed.
This suggests that although some airports experienced significant queues, the disruption did not develop into a uniform Europe-wide operational crisis.
Airlines and Airports Had Raised Concerns
Before and during the summer, airlines and airport operators warned that the introduction of biometric border checks could create serious congestion during peak travel periods.
Several industry representatives called for greater flexibility in implementing the system, particularly when passenger volumes exceeded the capacity of border-control facilities.
Earlier reports also documented lengthy waiting times at major hubs including Frankfurt, Munich and Amsterdam, although conditions varied according to the airport and time of day.
What Passengers Should Expect
The EES represents a long-term change in how Europe's external borders are managed. Travellers who are subject to the system should allow additional time for airport procedures, particularly during busy periods.
Passengers should also check their airline's guidance and ensure that their passports and other required travel documents are ready before reaching border control.
While the summer figures indicate that operational pressure eased in August, waiting times can still vary between airports and individual travel periods.
A Continuing Challenge for European Airports
The summer 2026 experience shows the difficulty of introducing a major digital border system across a large network of airports with different passenger volumes and operational capacities.
For European airports, the challenge will be to maintain efficient passenger flows while meeting the new biometric registration requirements.
Eurocontrol's findings suggest that the initial pressure eased as the summer progressed, but the performance of the EES will remain an important issue for airlines, airports and international travellers.
Sources:
- Eurocontrol – European Air Traffic Management
- Nice-Matin – Airport Queues in Germany and France
- Euronews – EES and Airport Waiting Times
- European Commission – Entry/Exit System
Flight Travel News – Aviation News, Airport Developments and Travel Industry Coverage.