European airport operator group ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and IATA published an open letter on 1 July warning that the new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) has reached a "critical point" only three months after becoming fully operational. According to the industry, lines of up to five hours are forming at many external Schengen borders, forcing some flights to depart half empty while passengers remain stuck in queues. Although the letter references hotspots such as Madrid and Lisbon, Polish airports are increasingly concerned. Warsaw-Chopin handled a record 3.1 million non-EU passengers in May and has only 36 automated kiosks certified for EES. Ground-handling firm LS Airport Services says peak-hour wait times at Chopin now average 47 minutes for third-country nationals, up from 18 minutes pre-EES.
![Airports and airlines urge Brussels to let Member States suspend Entry/Exit System checks during summer chaos]()
For travellers looking to cut down uncertainty at the border, VisaHQ provides step-by-step assistance with Schengen visa applications and the new biometric requirements. Its dedicated Poland page (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) lets passengers verify documentation needs, schedule courier pickups and receive status alerts, equipping them with everything they need well before they arrive at the airport.
The aviation groups want the European Commission to allow countries to "completely suspend" biometric checks whenever passenger volumes exceed capacity during July and August. They also ask for flexibility beyond the summer until enough staff and automation equipment are in place. The Commission is studying the request but notes that suspensions are permitted under article 14 of the Schengen Borders Code if internal security is not jeopardised. Travel-management companies in Poland are advising clients to arrive at least three hours before non-Schengen departures and to build longer connection buffers. Employers planning short-term assignments should warn staff that missed connections may not be reimbursed by airlines if the delay occurs at border control rather than check-in.
For travellers looking to cut down uncertainty at the border, VisaHQ provides step-by-step assistance with Schengen visa applications and the new biometric requirements. Its dedicated Poland page (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) lets passengers verify documentation needs, schedule courier pickups and receive status alerts, equipping them with everything they need well before they arrive at the airport.
The aviation groups want the European Commission to allow countries to "completely suspend" biometric checks whenever passenger volumes exceed capacity during July and August. They also ask for flexibility beyond the summer until enough staff and automation equipment are in place. The Commission is studying the request but notes that suspensions are permitted under article 14 of the Schengen Borders Code if internal security is not jeopardised. Travel-management companies in Poland are advising clients to arrive at least three hours before non-Schengen departures and to build longer connection buffers. Employers planning short-term assignments should warn staff that missed connections may not be reimbursed by airlines if the delay occurs at border control rather than check-in.
