Europe Ends EES Biometric Bypass Rules Threatening Airport Delays
European airports face longer queues starting September 6 as the EU ends temporary relief measures that allowed border control to bypass the new EES biometric system during peak traffic hours.
Starting today (September 6), waiting times at European airports are expected to worsen. The European Union is ending the temporary relief measure that allowed member states to suspend the new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) when exceptional queues formed.
Since the system became fully operational in April, long lines have been reported across Schengen zone airports. First-time entrants are required to register facial images and fingerprints. During the peak summer season, wait times tripled, causing numerous passengers to miss their flights.
End of the Emergency Bypass
To manage the summer rush, border authorities frequently bypassed the system to keep traffic moving. Air France-KLM officials told Politico:
"When queues built up during the busy summer months, the system was deactivated to ensure smooth transit at our hubs in Paris and Amsterdam."
However, according to the EU border agency Frontex, this exemption will not be extended into September, despite urgent requests from aviation industry bodies.
Technical Hurdles and Airline Warnings
Airports already struggling with the technology are now bracing for renewed delays. In some locations, machines require frequent reboots under heavy loads, while in others, like Brussels, the technology is reportedly not yet fully functional. Border agents have also noted specific difficulties, such as capturing fingerprints from elderly passengers.
Meanwhile, airlines are making it clear they will not delay flights for stranded passengers. Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, addressed the issue on The Travel Expert podcast, emphasizing that the responsibility to reach the gate on time lies solely with the traveler:
"We will not wait for anyone. Our priority is the passengers who are at the boarding gate when boarding starts. If you are not at the gate when we finish boarding, the aircraft will depart without you."
Since April, hundreds of passengers across various airlines have missed flights due to passport control delays, with many Ryanair customers seeing their planes depart without them.
