Specialist publication Agence Europe revealed on 2 July the full text of an open letter sent by A4E, ACI Europe and IATA to the European Commission on 29 June but only made public yesterday. The three associations warn that the Entry/Exit System has reached ‘saturation point’ and could trigger systemic collapse across EU airports if no flexibility is granted.
Although the letter covers the entire Schengen area, its annex singles out Germany for “high-risk congestion” because of its pivotal hub-and-spoke model and the concentration of US and Asian traffic flows.
The associations propose a three-tier emergency mechanism: 1) an immediate power for member states to suspend biometric capture for selected flights when queues exceed 45 minutes; 2) EU funding to hire and train an extra 2,000 border officers before July 2027; and 3) fast-track development of the ‘Travel to Europe’ pre-enrolment app with a mandate for airlines to promote it in booking flows.
They also urge the Commission to clarify whether airlines will be shielded from EU261 liability when passengers miss flights solely because of EES backlogs.
For travellers and corporate mobility teams looking for hands-on support amid these evolving requirements, VisaHQ offers a convenient solution. The platform provides real-time updates on Schengen entry rules, helps with document preparation, and supplies automated alerts tailored to German travel in particular—valuable tools for keeping itineraries on track even if new EES measures roll out. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/germany/
![EU Aviation Bodies Deliver Hard-Hitting Letter to von der Leyen Over EES ‘Saturation’ Risk]()
German political reaction has been mixed. The opposition CDU’s transport spokesperson welcomed the proposals, accusing the governing coalition of “sleep-walking into the crisis,” while the Greens argue that suspending the system would set back much-needed security reforms.
Inside the Interior Ministry, officials note that Germany has already installed more than 1,000 EES kiosks and is “better prepared than many peers,” but concede that staff shortages remain acute.
For global mobility professionals, the policy debate matters because any EU-level derogation would apply uniformly across Schengen and could radically change the travel landscape within days.
Companies should monitor next week’s Commission meeting closely and be ready to update travel policies and traveller communications at short notice.
If Brussels declines to grant new flexibilities, industry observers expect a patchwork of unilateral suspensions, with individual member states invoking Article 23 of the Schengen Borders Code to address ‘serious threats to internal security’—a scenario that could create confusion for cross-border commuters and frequent business travellers.
Although the letter covers the entire Schengen area, its annex singles out Germany for “high-risk congestion” because of its pivotal hub-and-spoke model and the concentration of US and Asian traffic flows.
The associations propose a three-tier emergency mechanism: 1) an immediate power for member states to suspend biometric capture for selected flights when queues exceed 45 minutes; 2) EU funding to hire and train an extra 2,000 border officers before July 2027; and 3) fast-track development of the ‘Travel to Europe’ pre-enrolment app with a mandate for airlines to promote it in booking flows.
They also urge the Commission to clarify whether airlines will be shielded from EU261 liability when passengers miss flights solely because of EES backlogs.
For travellers and corporate mobility teams looking for hands-on support amid these evolving requirements, VisaHQ offers a convenient solution. The platform provides real-time updates on Schengen entry rules, helps with document preparation, and supplies automated alerts tailored to German travel in particular—valuable tools for keeping itineraries on track even if new EES measures roll out. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/germany/
German political reaction has been mixed. The opposition CDU’s transport spokesperson welcomed the proposals, accusing the governing coalition of “sleep-walking into the crisis,” while the Greens argue that suspending the system would set back much-needed security reforms.
Inside the Interior Ministry, officials note that Germany has already installed more than 1,000 EES kiosks and is “better prepared than many peers,” but concede that staff shortages remain acute.
For global mobility professionals, the policy debate matters because any EU-level derogation would apply uniformly across Schengen and could radically change the travel landscape within days.
Companies should monitor next week’s Commission meeting closely and be ready to update travel policies and traveller communications at short notice.
If Brussels declines to grant new flexibilities, industry observers expect a patchwork of unilateral suspensions, with individual member states invoking Article 23 of the Schengen Borders Code to address ‘serious threats to internal security’—a scenario that could create confusion for cross-border commuters and frequent business travellers.
