Queuing time at German airports doubles due to EES

Queuing times at airports in Germany and other European countries have doubled since the full implementation of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES).

FT study reveals long waits caused by EES

A study by the Financial Times and Frankfurt-based travel analytics group Qsensor has found that waiting times at certain major European airports have doubled since the EES system was fully implemented.

The “average maximum queue time” at Munich Airport has increased from 31 minutes in 2025 to up to 60 minutes in July 2026. In Frankfurt, the average wait has increased from 60 to 120 minutes. 

Meanwhile, passengers travelling through Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam face queuing times of up to 120 minutes, up from 80 minutes last year. Qsensor’s averages are based on publicly available airport information and passenger reports.

The EES was partially rolled out in October 2025 and fully implemented on April 10, 2026. The new system requires non-EU citizens to log the details of their passport and biometric data when they initially enter any EU country, before proceeding to passport control.

Speaking to the FT, a spokesperson from Frankfurt Airport said that the EES’ full implementation was contributing to “departure delays and further operational disruptions”.

Some airports simply turning off EES machines

Since full implementation in April, multiple airlines and airports have called on the EU to temporarily suspend checks during the busy summer period, but appeals have not been heeded. 

In early July, the Airports Council International (ACI) Europe urged EU President Ursula von der Leyen to "take stock of reality" and temporarily suspend checks. The EU recognised that of the 1.500 border crossings, there were 20 spots where implementation was “difficult” but that full suspension was “not needed” and “not possible”. 

According to POLITICO, some airports have simply resorted to switching the EES off when staff are overwhelmed by arriving passengers. “When lines form during the busy summer months, the system is shut off to ensure smooth transit at our hubs in Paris and Amsterdam,” Air France-KLM told the website.

Now, several EU countries have joined airlines and airports in appealing for the system to be suspended until September. The European Commission said that it is in “close and constructive contact with those few member states where there are challenges at certain border crossing points," and added that average EES wait times were just 70 seconds.