Spanish news agency EFE reports that European airports and airlines—including Aeroporti di Roma and the SEA group in Milan—have sent a joint open letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen demanding a “preventive, full suspension” of the Entry/Exit System whenever passenger volumes overwhelm capacity. The request follows queues of up to five hours recorded last weekend at Madrid-Barajas and Milan-Malpensa. The industry coalition wants Member States to retain the right to switch off biometric enrolment at least until 1 September and to keep an emergency flexibility mechanism thereafter. The letter argues that EES “is creating serious operational consequences, undermining Europe’s reputation and connectivity”. The Commission acknowledges the concerns and has called another stakeholder meeting “in the coming days”. From an Italian standpoint the stakes are high: July and August generate nearly 30 % of annual passenger throughput. If border bottlenecks cause missed flights, airlines lose yield and airport concessionaires lose non-aeronautical revenue. Tour operators worry that bad press could divert high-spending long-haul visitors to Turkey or the UK, neither of which applies EES this summer.
![Airports and airlines press EU to let Italy suspend biometric border checks in July–August peak]()
For travelers and corporate mobility teams looking for a reliable partner to navigate Schengen entry requirements and any interim work-arounds, VisaHQ offers up-to-date Italian visa guidance, passport renewal support and smart digital application tools. Their dedicated Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) consolidates evolving border policy updates and can streamline documentation so passengers spend less time in lines and more time at their destination.
Corporate mobility managers should monitor Commission guidance closely. A temporary suspension would speed up formalities for non-EU employees visiting Italian subsidiaries, but a last-minute policy flip-flop could also create confusion. Advisories should be updated daily and distributed via HR or travel-booking tools. Some analysts believe the political pressure could force Brussels to accept a partial moratorium during the Jubilee and the Paris Olympics, effectively kicking full enforcement into 2027.
For travelers and corporate mobility teams looking for a reliable partner to navigate Schengen entry requirements and any interim work-arounds, VisaHQ offers up-to-date Italian visa guidance, passport renewal support and smart digital application tools. Their dedicated Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) consolidates evolving border policy updates and can streamline documentation so passengers spend less time in lines and more time at their destination.
Corporate mobility managers should monitor Commission guidance closely. A temporary suspension would speed up formalities for non-EU employees visiting Italian subsidiaries, but a last-minute policy flip-flop could also create confusion. Advisories should be updated daily and distributed via HR or travel-booking tools. Some analysts believe the political pressure could force Brussels to accept a partial moratorium during the Jubilee and the Paris Olympics, effectively kicking full enforcement into 2027.
