Muhar Al Hassan - Trip Special
The European Entry and Exit System (EES) entered a more sensitive phase after the end of extraordinary flexibility measures on September 6, which allowed some countries to temporarily suspend the collection of fingerprints and facial images when border points turned into stifling queues. With the disappearance of this “safety valve,” fears of passengers being delayed and missing flights have returned in a number of European airports.

Five hours in front of a seal that no longer exists

The system, which has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, replaces the passport stamp with a digital record including document data, facial image and fingerprints for non-EU travelers on short visits. But the summer revealed another side; Waiting times at some points reached five hours, and Lisbon, Milan, Rome and Krakow airports were among the most affected.

The flight may leave while you are in line
Anxiety is not related to waiting alone. Data published by the Financial Times indicated that the number of missed connecting flights doubled during the implementation of the system, while other data showed an increase in waiting times at major airports such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Munich. Entities in the sector link the problem to malfunctions of self-service machines, staff shortages, and operational instability at some airports.

Ryanair: Warnings were not heard

In one of the most pointed positions, Neil McMahon, Ryanair's chief operating officer, said that the European Union's handling of the system's launch was "chaotic from start to finish," noting that airlines, airports and border authorities had warned in advance of increased processing times and queues. The company requested that the flexibility be extended until April 2027.

Brussels defends the system

The European Commission presents a different picture, stressing that the system “worked well in general” during the summer, and that it is communicating with countries whose border points still require adjustments. It also indicates that EES has already recorded more than 150 million entry and exit transactions, and has contributed to detecting attempts to use fake identities.

What does this mean for Arab tourists?
For the Arab traveler to the Schengen countries, the time distance between flights has become more important than before. Short transit flights may carry a greater risk when passing through an external border point, especially in crowded airports. Therefore, it is best to avoid bookings that rely on a minimum connection time, and leave extra margin for border procedures.