Organizations in the aviation industry are requesting the suspension of the Entry/Exit System (EES) during peak months, as waiting times at border control have increased to up to five hours.

European aviation industry organizations have sent an open letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, highlighting the problems caused by the new Entry/Exit System (EES). Waiting times at border control have reached up to five hours during peak periods, affecting millions of passengers entering the Schengen Area. The letter calls for the suspension of the EES during peak months, July and August, and the establishment of a permanent mechanism to allow for the suspension of checks in exceptional circumstances. The organizations emphasize the pressure on airport staff and airlines, noting that passengers are standing in long queues, and planes often take off with empty seats. The EES, implemented to streamline border checks, has been considered by a spokesperson for the European Commission to be functioning well, with most delays caused by factors such as staff shortages and insufficient infrastructure.