Brussels Airport warns of delays from new EU border system

Brussels Airport has called for greater flexibility in the implementation of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), warning that the rollout is already causing significant disruption for passengers.

 

The airport reported that nearly 600 travellers missed their flights in recent days due to extended waiting times at border control, with total delays reaching 21 hours. Queues for non-European passengers have stretched up to two hours at departures and more than three hours at arrivals.

Although the registration of biometric data has been temporarily postponed, the system still requires all passengers to be registered, increasing processing times. As a result, waiting times remain high, with up to one hour at departures and nearly two hours at arrivals even after adjustments.

Additional pressure has come from the suspension of e-gate access for travellers from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore, forcing more passengers through manual border checks.

Brussels Airport is now urging the Belgian government to push for a more gradual and flexible rollout of the system at European level, especially ahead of the busy summer travel season.

Airport officials also stressed the need for full staffing at border control points and the rapid reinstatement of e-gate usage for eligible travellers to help reduce congestion.

While acknowledging efforts by authorities and border police, the airport warned that without further action, delays could worsen, potentially impacting operations and passenger experience during peak travel periods.

The situation highlights the challenges of implementing new border control systems while maintaining efficient passenger flow at major international hubs.