Several airport operators are searching for ways to suspend the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) less than three months after its April 12 rollout. The new border regime, which requires non-EU citizens to undergo facial scans, fingerprint checks, and submit precise itinerary forms, has caused up to 5-hour queues in major hubs, including Lisbon, Paris, Milan Bergamo, and Málaga.
In an open letter to the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Airports Council International warned that airports “have reached a critical point” and accused the Commission of hiding the scale of the problems. The lobby group said EU “must take stock of the reality” and stage an “immediate intervention” before the situation deteriorates more.
Officials in Rome and Athens have already signaled their intention to take the system fully offline during July-August tourist season. Up to 500 million travelers visit the Schengen area annually, with monthly passenger volumes expected to surge by 40 million in late summer.
