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).
German airports are experiencing significantly longer queuing times for travelers due to the recent full implementation of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES). According to a study by the Financial Times and travel analytics company Qsensor, waiting times at major airports across Europe have doubled since the system was fully put in place in April 2026.
At Munich Airport, the "average maximum queue time" increased from 31 minutes in 2025 to up to 60 minutes in July 2026. Frankfurt Airport saw a rise from 60 to 120 minutes. Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam currently has queuing times of up to 120 minutes, compared to 80 minutes last year.
The EES requires non-EU citizens to provide passport and biometric information when entering any EU country, before proceeding to passport control. A Qsensor spokesperson stated that the firm's averages are based on publicly available airport data and passenger reports.
Frankfurt Airport officials attributed the increased delays to the EES' full implementation, with multiple airlines and airports calling on the EU to temporarily suspend checks during the busy summer months. However, these calls have gone unheeded. The Airports Council International (ACI) Europe also urged EU President Ursula von der Leyen to review the situation and consider a temporary suspension of checks.
Some airports, like Air France-KLM, have resorted to disabling the EES when overwhelmed by passengers during peak travel periods. The European Commission acknowledged that while there are 20 difficult border crossing points, full suspension of the EES is neither necessary nor feasible. Average EES wait times are said to be just 70 seconds.
Several EU countries, along with airlines and airports, have now joined the appeal for a temporary suspension of the EES until September. The EU Commission stated that it is in close contact with the few member states facing challenges at certain border crossings, and claimed average EES wait times were only 70 seconds.
Written by urgent.news from IamExpat Germany (All Germany News)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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