Portugal Aligns with France, Italy, Greece and Others in Facing Airport Bottlenecks as the EU and the Aviation Industry Race to Resolve Entry/Exit System Summer Travel Disruptions

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Portugal Aligns with France, Italy, Greece and Others in Facing Airport Bottlenecks as the EU and the Aviation Industry Race to Resolve Entry/Exit System Summer Travel Disruptions. Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Portugal are at the centre of a growing aviation challenge as Europe’s new digital border control system continues to create significant delays at airports during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. With passenger volumes surging across the continent, the European Commission, airlines, airports and border authorities are now engaged in urgent discussions aimed at preventing further disruption to tourism and international travel.

The issue revolves around the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which became fully operational across the Schengen Area on 10 April 2026. Designed to replace traditional passport stamps with biometric verification, the system records facial images, fingerprints and travel data for non-EU visitors entering and leaving Europe. While the technology is intended to modernise border management and strengthen security, its implementation is creating operational challenges at several major gateways.

As Europe’s peak summer season gathers momentum, industry leaders are warning that the situation could have significant implications for tourism, airport operations and the wider travel economy.

Europe’s Busiest Travel Season Meets New Border Procedures

The timing of the disruption is particularly significant.

July and August represent the busiest period for European tourism, with airports handling tens of millions of passengers travelling between Europe and international markets.

Industry groups estimate that European airports will process approximately 40 million more passengers during July and August than during May and June, placing unprecedented pressure on border facilities already adapting to the new EES requirements.

The system applies to non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area for tourism, business travel and family visits. During their first entry, travellers must undergo biometric registration, including fingerprint scans and facial image capture.

While the process is intended to become faster on subsequent visits, first-time registrations are proving particularly time-consuming during peak travel periods.

Airports Report Growing Delays

Several major airports across Southern and Western Europe have reported increasing pressure on border control facilities.

According to aviation industry representatives, passengers at some locations have experienced waiting times ranging from several hours to, in extreme cases, up to five or six hours during peak periods. Airports in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal and Greece have been among those most frequently cited as experiencing operational strain.

Industry stakeholders report that challenges include:

• Extended immigration queues
• Delayed passenger processing
• Missed flight connections
• Increased staffing pressures
• Bottlenecks at biometric kiosks
• Congestion during peak arrival periods

Airports handling large volumes of long-haul visitors are facing particular pressure because the system applies primarily to non-EU travellers.

Airlines and Airports Call for Immediate Action

The growing concerns have prompted coordinated action from some of Europe’s most influential aviation organisations.

A joint appeal from Airlines for Europe (A4E), ACI Europe and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged European authorities to introduce greater flexibility during the summer travel season. Industry representatives argue that airports require additional operational tools to manage passenger flows while infrastructure and staffing levels continue adapting to the new system.

Among the measures being discussed is the possibility of temporarily suspending biometric collection at specific locations when passenger volumes exceed operational capacity.

The aviation sector maintains that such flexibility could help reduce queues while preserving overall border security standards.

Tourism Industry Watches Closely

The developments are being closely monitored by tourism stakeholders across Europe.

The Schengen Area remains one of the world’s largest tourism regions, attracting hundreds of millions of visitors annually. Major destinations, including Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Portugal, rely heavily on international arrivals during the summer months.

Industry leaders have warned that prolonged delays risk affecting traveller experiences and could influence future booking decisions if passengers perceive border procedures as excessively time-consuming.

For destinations dependent on tourism revenue, efficient airport processing remains an essential component of maintaining competitiveness in the global travel market.

Why the Entry/Exit System Was Introduced

Despite the operational challenges, European authorities continue emphasising the long-term objectives behind the EES programme.

The system was introduced to:

• Replace manual passport stamping
• Improve border security
• Combat identity fraud
• Track overstays more accurately
• Strengthen immigration management
• Modernise external border controls

Since becoming operational, the system has already processed millions of border crossings and identified individuals presenting security concerns or using fraudulent documentation. European officials maintain that the programme will deliver significant benefits once implementation challenges are resolved.

European Commission Steps Up Engagement

In response to growing industry concerns, the European Commission has scheduled urgent consultations with governments, airports and airline representatives.

Officials have stated that support for member states is being increased while monitoring continues across major entry points.

The Commission maintains that the impact varies considerably between airports and notes that many locations are operating with limited disruption. However, authorities acknowledge that certain gateways are experiencing operational difficulties that require attention.

Some countries have already explored temporary adjustments to ease pressure at specific airports, particularly during periods of exceptionally high passenger traffic.

What Travellers Should Expect

For travellers heading to Europe this summer, preparation is becoming increasingly important.

Visitors entering the Schengen Area for the first time under EES procedures should expect:

• Additional processing time
• Biometric registration requirements
• Fingerprint collection
• Facial image verification
• Potentially longer immigration queues

Airlines are advising passengers to arrive at airports earlier than usual, particularly when travelling through major international gateways during peak holiday periods.

While delays remain concentrated at specific locations, the situation continues to evolve as authorities and industry stakeholders work to improve operational efficiency.

Chronological Tracker

Key Statistics

• Countries covered by EES: 29
• Additional passengers expected in July–August: 40 million
• Maximum reported delays: Up to 5–6 hours
• EES full implementation: 10 April 2026
• Applies to: Non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area

FAQ

What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?

The EES is the European Union’s digital border management system that records biometric and travel information for non-EU visitors entering and leaving the Schengen Area.

Why are airports experiencing delays?

The biometric registration process, staffing requirements and infrastructure limitations at some airports are creating longer processing times during peak travel periods.

Which destinations are most affected?

Reports of significant delays have emerged from airports in Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal and several other major European tourism markets.

Key Dates

• 12 October 2025 – EES phased rollout begins
• 10 April 2026 – Full EES implementation across Schengen Area
• July 2026 – Emergency aviation sector consultations launched

Conclusion

Portugal Aligns with France, Italy, Greece and Others in Facing Airport Bottlenecks as the EU and the Aviation Industry Race to Resolve Entry/Exit System Summer Travel Disruptions. Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Portugal are navigating one of the most significant border management transitions in recent European travel history as the Entry/Exit System faces its first peak summer test. While the programme remains central to the European Union’s long-term border modernisation strategy, growing passenger volumes and operational bottlenecks have prompted urgent discussions between policymakers and the aviation industry. As airports, airlines and governments work to improve efficiency, the coming weeks will be critical in determining how successfully Europe balances security, tourism growth and passenger experience during the busiest travel season of the year.