Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleStefan Schulte, president of ACI Europe, has urged EU ministers to acknowledge that the region's new biometric border control system (EES) is not functioning effectively, citing significant operational problems. Schulte, who also heads the company owning Frankfurt airport, stated that the current state of the EES is a major concern for airport CEOs across Europe, particularly with anticipated increases in traffic. The Schengen Area Entry-Exit System (EES), fully rolled out in April, has led to extensive queues, some lasting up to six hours, and reports of non-EU passengers being repeatedly checked. He called on the European Commission to develop a new aviation strategy to restore Europe's competitiveness and for Home Affairs Commissioner Brunner and ministers to stop downplaying the issues. Schulte emphasised the need for border control authorities to have the flexibility to suspend the EES to prevent further chaos, stressing the importance of showing respect to travellers and safeguarding the EU's reputation. In full‘Stop pretending’ EU entry-exit system is working, top European aviation head demandsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Europe’s airport chief has warned that he “doesn’t know” how airports will “cope” with the huge delays caused by the new EU border system.

Our community says the EU's new entry-exit system is causing unnecessary delays, confusion and disruption at airports, with many blaming poor planning and flawed implementation…