Airlines and airports are warning that Belgium’s main gateway could grind to a halt unless the European Commission hits the pause button on the new Entry-Exit System (EES). In an open letter signed by Airlines for Europe (A4E), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International (ACI Europe), the industry says that since the system became fully operational in April average wait times at Brussels Airport have ballooned from 40 minutes to as much as five hours at peaks. Under EES, all non-EU travellers must complete biometric registration—fingerprints and a facial scan—on first entry, replacing the old passport-stamp process.
![Airlines Urge Brussels to ‘Switch-Off’ New EU Border System as Queues Grow at Brussels Airport]()
For travellers and corporate mobility teams confused by the shifting entry requirements, VisaHQ offers a one-stop portal with real-time guidance on Belgium’s new border rules, visa categories and supporting documents. Its dedicated Belgium page lets users start applications online and receive expert help, reducing the risk of surprises at overstretched checkpoints.
While the technology is working, airlines say the extra processing time, combined with staff shortages at the federal police, is overwhelming the border halls just as Belgium heads into its busiest summer on record (5.2 million passengers forecast in July-August). Brussels Airport has installed 30 self-service kiosks and redeployed office staff to the border, but Chief Operations Officer Peter Gerber admits these are “band-aids” that cannot compensate for the sheer volume of holiday traffic and tour groups expected after two consecutive summers of double-digit growth. Missed connections are already mounting, with long-haul carriers having to hold departures to protect minimum-connect times for business-class passengers. The Belgian pilots’ union says this is driving up fuel burn and rostering costs. Federal Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke has quietly backed the industry, calling for a phased introduction and a summer moratorium on mandatory biometrics so that extra police officers can be recruited and trained. He also wants special lanes for frequent flyers and airline crews, plus a fast-track process for wheel-chair users who currently have to queue with everyone else. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin, who is formally responsible, has yet to comment. For corporate mobility managers the message is clear: build in extra time for departing staff, prepare for missed meetings and consider routing executives via Luxembourg or Amsterdam when itineraries are tight. Travel-risk teams are also advising companies to move high-value cargo flights to Liège, where EES volumes are lower and disruption minimal. Unless the Commission blinks, Belgium faces a summer of reputational damage that could hurt tourism and foreign investment long after the holiday season ends.
For travellers and corporate mobility teams confused by the shifting entry requirements, VisaHQ offers a one-stop portal with real-time guidance on Belgium’s new border rules, visa categories and supporting documents. Its dedicated Belgium page lets users start applications online and receive expert help, reducing the risk of surprises at overstretched checkpoints.
While the technology is working, airlines say the extra processing time, combined with staff shortages at the federal police, is overwhelming the border halls just as Belgium heads into its busiest summer on record (5.2 million passengers forecast in July-August). Brussels Airport has installed 30 self-service kiosks and redeployed office staff to the border, but Chief Operations Officer Peter Gerber admits these are “band-aids” that cannot compensate for the sheer volume of holiday traffic and tour groups expected after two consecutive summers of double-digit growth. Missed connections are already mounting, with long-haul carriers having to hold departures to protect minimum-connect times for business-class passengers. The Belgian pilots’ union says this is driving up fuel burn and rostering costs. Federal Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke has quietly backed the industry, calling for a phased introduction and a summer moratorium on mandatory biometrics so that extra police officers can be recruited and trained. He also wants special lanes for frequent flyers and airline crews, plus a fast-track process for wheel-chair users who currently have to queue with everyone else. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin, who is formally responsible, has yet to comment. For corporate mobility managers the message is clear: build in extra time for departing staff, prepare for missed meetings and consider routing executives via Luxembourg or Amsterdam when itineraries are tight. Travel-risk teams are also advising companies to move high-value cargo flights to Liège, where EES volumes are lower and disruption minimal. Unless the Commission blinks, Belgium faces a summer of reputational damage that could hurt tourism and foreign investment long after the holiday season ends.
