European airline and airport associations issued a stark open letter on 11 February warning that the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) – already live at external Schengen borders – is triggering waits of “up to two hours” even in the low-season. The groups fear peak-summer pressure could push queues beyond four hours unless Brussels allows temporary suspensions or rapid staffing increases.
For Switzerland, a Schengen member state, the alert matters because Basel, Geneva and Zurich airports all began phased EES roll-out last October. Carriers including SWISS and easyJet Europe rely heavily on tight aircraft turn-arounds at these hubs; prolonged border checks would ripple through flight schedules and could revive the kind of congestion seen during the 2022 post-Covid travel rebound.
![Airlines Warn EES Border Tech Could Create Four-Hour Queues – Swiss Hubs On Alert]()
The associations – Airlines for Europe (A4E), Airports Council International Europe and IATA – argue that biometric kiosks are still prone to glitches and that a shortage of trained police officers is the root cause of delays. They have asked the EU Home Affairs Commissioner to let member states “partially or fully suspend” EES during the height of July–August traffic.
Corporate travel managers with assignees flying in and out of Switzerland should build extra buffer time into itineraries, warn mobility consultants, and consider fast-track services where available. Although Swiss authorities have not signalled any pause to implementation, they have acknowledged staffing constraints: Zurich airport currently opens only half of its EES e-gates during overnight waves to save manpower.
If no remedial steps are taken, mobility specialists predict longer MICE-sector transit times and higher duty-of-care costs as employers arrange accommodation for travellers stranded in immigration queues.
For Switzerland, a Schengen member state, the alert matters because Basel, Geneva and Zurich airports all began phased EES roll-out last October. Carriers including SWISS and easyJet Europe rely heavily on tight aircraft turn-arounds at these hubs; prolonged border checks would ripple through flight schedules and could revive the kind of congestion seen during the 2022 post-Covid travel rebound.
The associations – Airlines for Europe (A4E), Airports Council International Europe and IATA – argue that biometric kiosks are still prone to glitches and that a shortage of trained police officers is the root cause of delays. They have asked the EU Home Affairs Commissioner to let member states “partially or fully suspend” EES during the height of July–August traffic.
Corporate travel managers with assignees flying in and out of Switzerland should build extra buffer time into itineraries, warn mobility consultants, and consider fast-track services where available. Although Swiss authorities have not signalled any pause to implementation, they have acknowledged staffing constraints: Zurich airport currently opens only half of its EES e-gates during overnight waves to save manpower.
If no remedial steps are taken, mobility specialists predict longer MICE-sector transit times and higher duty-of-care costs as employers arrange accommodation for travellers stranded in immigration queues.
Source: The Straits Times / AFP dispatch
