Queuing time at German airports doubles due to EES

Since the full implementation of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) in April 2026, waiting times at airports across Germany and other European countries have doubled. According to a study by the Financial Times and Qsensor, an aviation analytics group, the "average maximum queue time" at Munich Airport surged from 31 minutes in 2025 to up to 60 minutes in July 2026.

Frankfurt Airport reported a 60-minute wait time increasing to 120 minutes. Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam saw queuing times rise to up to 120 minutes, up from 80 minutes last year.

Qsensor’s figures are based on publicly available airport data and passenger reports. The EES requires non-EU citizens to submit their passport and biometric data upon initial entry into any EU country before proceeding to passport control. A Frankfurt Airport spokesperson attributed the delays to the EES’ full implementation, which has caused "departure delays and further operational disruptions".

Multiple airlines and airports have urged the EU to suspend checks temporarily during the busy summer season, but their appeals have been ignored.

The Airports Council International (ACI) Europe has called on EU President Ursula von der Leyen to acknowledge the situation and consider a temporary suspension of checks. While the EU acknowledged that 20 border checkpoints faced "difficult" implementation, it deemed a full suspension unnecessary and unfeasible. Some airports have resorted to turning off the EES during peak times, such as at Air France-KLM's hubs in Paris and Amsterdam.

Several EU countries, along with airlines and airports, are now demanding a suspension of the system until September. The European Commission acknowledged that it is in "close and constructive contact" with member states facing challenges at border crossings, noting that average EES wait times are only 70 seconds.