Airports switch off EU biometric border checks when queues build

Checks suspended at busy hubs

Air France-KLM told Politico that the system is shut off "when lines form during the busy summer months" to keep transit moving at its Paris and Amsterdam hubs. Airline CEOs, border authorities and airport officials said biometric checks are also suspended when crossings become congested in Frankfurt, Brussels and Milan.

The practice is allowed under EU regulations. Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said the EES regulation "includes the possibility to temporarily suspend the registration of biometrics in case of exceptional circumstances during the summer." Under pressure from the travel industry, the Commission granted a waiver for the peak summer season until 6 September 2026. The waiver covers all entry points, not just airports.

At Brussels Airport, about 10 kilometres from the EU institutions, biometric data collection suspensions began before the summer under a derogation issued in late March, after 600 passengers missed flights over 21 hours. Belgium's federal police said its border control unit may apply the derogation when necessary.

Rene Colandog, a British traveler, told Politico he only had to show his passport before boarding a Eurostar train at London St Pancras last month. He said facial scans and fingerprints were not required.

Staffing limits slow the system

Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr said connecting flights were missed because of the EU entry system. At Milan Malpensa, border control teams number about 35 people. Cristian Sternativo, a border control officer and local union representative, said at least 10 to 15 more would be needed at the busiest times. He called it "unthinkable" to expect the EES to run at full capacity with current staffing because the system "requires more time."

ACI Europe said traffic rises around 12% in July and August compared with May and June. Director general Olivier Jankovec said passengers have faced three- to four-hour queues at some airports since the EES was introduced. He said the system risks putting the EU's reputation as an efficient and welcoming tourist destination at stake, citing a lack of adequately trained staff and an infrastructure he called unstable. The association said it raised the alarm in April and wrote to the EU on 29 May.

Extension request

Eight EU countries and Switzerland want the summer derogations extended beyond 6 September. Sternativo said a strict application of the full procedure "would lead to public order issues" because "there are certain peak periods when the current infrastructure isn't sufficient to accommodate everyone."

Border authorities insist security is not undermined. "The traveler is always registered in the EES and the required travel document data are entered into the system," the Belgian federal police said, adding that border checks and compliance with EU regulations remain its priority.

What the EES does

The EES applies to non-EU citizens entering the 29-country Schengen zone. On first entry, travelers provide fingerprints and a facial image at a kiosk or border booth, and the record is kept for three years. The system replaced manual passport stamps and is meant to track visa overstays.

The rollout began on 12 October 2025 and reached full operation on 10 April 2026. The EES was adopted in 2017 but delayed for years because border authorities were not ready for the extra workload, Politico reported.