In a joint letter publicised by The Brussels Times on 8 July, five European carriers—including Air France, Ryanair and easyJet—asked the French government to suspend the Entry/Exit System (EES) for the height of the school-holiday season. The airlines warn that, if nothing changes, security bottlenecks could balloon into five-hour queues at Paris Beauvais, Nice and Lyon by the end of July. They cite simulations by ACI Europe showing that processing a wide-body flight under EES takes up to 90 minutes longer than with conventional stamping, risking knock-on delays across the network. Carriers also fear penalty charges under EU261 if passengers miss connections due to border waits outside the airlines’ control. The French interior ministry responded that it is “not envisaging a full deactivation”, but hinted at selective exemptions for families with small children and for transit passengers staying air-side. Industry groups argue this half-measure still leaves charter airports—crucial for France’s coastal tourism economy—with insufficient resources. Business-aviation operators have joined the call, noting that private-jet clients accustomed to 15-minute kerb-to-air times are facing hour-long formalities, deterring high-value investment trips. Legal advisers recommend companies document all delays to support potential claims for liquidated damages in time-sensitive contracts. Whether Paris bows to airline pressure could set a precedent for other Schengen states. Mobility and relocation teams should watch forthcoming decrees: a full or partial pause on EES would change documentation requirements and may invalidate recently issued staff-travel guidelines.
Source: The Brussels Times
