Major aviation industry groups have called for a temporary suspension of the European Union’s biometric border security system during the busiest summer travel months. The request was submitted to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen by airport representatives from ACI Europe, Airlines 4 Europe, and the International Air Transport Association, citing operational strain across the continent’s air transport network.
The industry bodies report that current conditions are creating significant disruptions to passenger flows and flight operations. Travelers have experienced extended waits outside terminal buildings, with queue times reaching up to five hours at peak periods. Some airlines have been forced to depart with partially empty aircraft due to passengers remaining in border control procedures, while others have had to leave travelers behind entirely. The groups characterized the situation as having reached a critical point, with border facilities unable to process arriving passengers at adequate speeds.
The biometric entry system, which has been gradually implemented since last October, requires non-EU citizens to register fingerprints and photographs upon arrival at their destination airport. Multiple European nations have already taken steps to mitigate disruptions, with Greece suspending checks for British travelers through September and Rome’s airport authority announcing plans to pause the system for non-EU visitors. French authorities also temporarily halted additional checks at the Dover port facility in May.
The aviation groups are requesting the authority to completely suspend the checks during July and August when passenger volumes exceed border control capacity. They have also advocated for continued flexibility extending into September, when current exemptions are scheduled to be phased out. European airports are anticipated to handle approximately 40 million additional passengers during these two months compared to the preceding period.
Industry representatives warned that excessive delays are damaging Europe’s reputation and may discourage international travel to the continent. They stated that full implementation of the system should be deferred until sufficient staffing levels and reliable automated processing kiosks are in place.
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