Speaking to AFP on 6 July 2026, Commissioner Magnus Brunner said the Commission will “double its efforts” to resolve glitches in the automated border-control system that have sparked fierce criticism from airports and airlines. In a joint letter, aviation groups ACI Europe, IATA and Airlines for Europe urged Brussels to authorise time-limited suspensions of the checks during the July/August peak, warning that European hubs will handle 40 million extra passengers over the two-month period. Airlines complain that first-time EES processing can take up to five minutes per passenger, quadrupling queuing times.
![EU pledges ‘double effort’ to fix automated border chaos after airline outcry]()
Travellers eager to streamline their journey can also consult VisaHQ’s dedicated Austria page, which lays out the latest Schengen entry rules, visa options and passport validity requirements, offering a hassle-free way for individuals and corporate travel planners to ensure documents are in perfect order before they face the new EES kiosks.
Brunner will meet industry leaders today to discuss emergency measures and longer-term fixes—including a proposal to pre-enrol biometrics via airline apps. The Commissioner defended the new regime, noting that since its pilot launch in October 2025 more than 110 million border crossings have been processed and 44 000 illegal entries blocked. Austrian hospitality firms say any prolonged disruption could deter Asian and North-American visitors just as Vienna’s conference calendar rebounds. The Austrian Business Travel Association (ABTA) is urging members to build 90-minute buffers into Schengen connections until at least mid-September. If the talks fail, carriers may escalate by cutting tight connections or shifting capacity to non-Schengen hubs such as Istanbul, ABTA warned.
Travellers eager to streamline their journey can also consult VisaHQ’s dedicated Austria page, which lays out the latest Schengen entry rules, visa options and passport validity requirements, offering a hassle-free way for individuals and corporate travel planners to ensure documents are in perfect order before they face the new EES kiosks.
Brunner will meet industry leaders today to discuss emergency measures and longer-term fixes—including a proposal to pre-enrol biometrics via airline apps. The Commissioner defended the new regime, noting that since its pilot launch in October 2025 more than 110 million border crossings have been processed and 44 000 illegal entries blocked. Austrian hospitality firms say any prolonged disruption could deter Asian and North-American visitors just as Vienna’s conference calendar rebounds. The Austrian Business Travel Association (ABTA) is urging members to build 90-minute buffers into Schengen connections until at least mid-September. If the talks fail, carriers may escalate by cutting tight connections or shifting capacity to non-Schengen hubs such as Istanbul, ABTA warned.
