If you’re coordinating business travel into Europe this summer, a new warning from aviation industry leaders deserves your immediate attention. Airlines and airports across the continent have jointly called on EU authorities to urgently rethink the rollout of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES), citing border waiting times of up to five hours during peak periods. With summer travel volumes already straining capacity, the disruption is real, and it’s happening now.

What This Means for Business Travel

The EES is a new EU digital border management system designed to replace passport stamping with biometric checks for non-EU travelers entering and exiting the Schengen Zone. In theory, it modernizes border control. In practice, the rollout has created serious bottlenecks at major airports, with aviation bodies warning that infrastructure and staffing simply haven’t kept pace with passenger volumes. The open letter from industry signatories calls for temporary suspension of the system at the busiest entry points until capacity issues are resolved.

For corporate travelers (especially those on tight schedules flying into hubs like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, or Madrid) a five-hour border queue isn’t just an inconvenience. It can mean missed meetings, disrupted itineraries, and significant knock-on costs. Until the EU responds with concrete fixes, this is a live risk for anyone coordinating European travel.

Travel Coordination Take

  1. Add buffer time to European itineraries now. Build at least two to three extra hours into any schedule that involves entry into the Schengen Zone, particularly for non-EU passport holders. Don’t assume a standard connection or meeting start time is still realistic.
  2. Check your travelers’ passport status before booking. EES checks apply to non-EU, non-EEA nationals. If you have team members traveling on US, UK, Australian, or other non-EU passports, they face the highest risk of delays. Flag this proactively.
  3. Brief travelers before they fly. Make sure anyone heading to Europe knows to expect extended border processing and arrives at the airport earlier than usual. A quick heads-up can prevent a lot of stress, and a lot of frantic calls to you mid-trip.
  4. Monitor entry point conditions. Some airports are more affected than others. Keep an eye on updates from your travel management company or check airport authority announcements for the specific hubs your travelers are using.
  5. Review same-day travel and tight connection bookings. Any itinerary that relies on a quick turnaround after landing in Europe is now higher risk. Consider rebooking where possible to allow more time between arrival and the next commitment.

Key Takeaway

The EU’s new border system was meant to make Schengen entry smoother, but right now it’s doing the opposite. Until authorities address the capacity shortfalls, extended delays at European borders are a real and present risk for your travelers. Get ahead of it by adjusting schedules, briefing your team, and keeping a close eye on developments as the summer peak season continues.