Spain has initiated operational modifications at airports within the Aena network to address queues associated with the Entry/Exit System (EES), a new European system that digitally records entries, exits, and entry denials for third-country nationals on brief stays. the EES. The European Commission has verified that the system will be entirely operational in the Schengen countries that utilise it by April 10th, 2026.
The threshold for activating relief measures is a 25-minute wait time at the biometric lines, as indicated by reports published by local and industry media that cite internal instructions. Staff may direct families and passengers with reduced mobility to traditional validation channels or priority service or coordinate arrival adjustments with slot management to alleviate peak congestion when this time limit is exceeded.
The airports mentioned in the available information are Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Málaga-Costa del Sol, Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, and Palma de Mallorca. All of these airports are subject to waves of non-Schengen international traffic and strong tourist seasonality.
What is the reason for the formation of queues and what are the alterations in the SES?
The SES replaces manual passport stamping with a digital file that includes travel document data, the date and location of entry or departure, a facial image, and fingerprints. It affects third-country nationals who are crossing external Schengen borders for brief stays and also records entry refusals.
The initial biometric registration is where the friction is most intense. The ultimate objective is to enhance the detection of overstays and increase automation. However, the initial phase necessitates the capture and verification of biometric data in an airport environment that is already constrained by arrival banks, charter aircraft, short connections, and limited border police resources. According to eu-LISA, the European agency responsible for the technical management of complex IT systems, the SES is an interconnected infrastructure that connects national systems to a central European platform.
Summer hazards are foreseen by airlines and terminals
The issue is not restricted to Spain. In February, ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe, and IATA issued a warning that queues could extend to four hours or more in July and August in the absence of increased flexibility. The associations identified three risk factors: a chronic shortage of border control personnel, outstanding technological issues, particularly in the context of automation, and a low adoption of the Frontex pre-registration application by Schengen States.
Changes in airline operations have already been implemented as a result of the issue. Ryanair announced on April 22nd, 2026, that in-person check-in and baggage drop-off will be closed 60 minutes prior to departure, effective November 10th, 2026, replacing the current 40-minute window. The company argues that this is necessary to provide passengers with additional time to pass through security and passport control. The measure will impact 20% of its customers who check baggage, while the remaining 80% of customers who travel without checking in will not experience any modifications to their process.
Brussels preserves the system’s architecture, while Greece pursues an alternative course of action.
According to a statement from the Greek Embassy in London, which was reported by European media, Greece has chosen a more disruptive approach by prohibiting British passport holders from participating in biometric registration at its border crossings. This decision is in stark contrast to the Spanish approach, which proposes flow management measures and maintains the system, rather than a general suspension.
The legal framework is present; however, it is restricted. In the event of technical malfunctions or exceptional circumstances that result in excessive waiting times, Regulation (EU) 2025/1534 permits the partial or complete suspension of the Electronic Service (SES) at specific border crossings. After the phase-out is complete, Member States have the option to partially suspend biometric data collection for limited periods. The regulation stipulates a 90-day window, which is automatically extended by 60 days if less than 80% of the records registered during the phase-out contain biometric data.
Operational implications: passenger MRO, connections, and schedules
The immigration counter is not the sole location where the bottleneck occurs at airports. Baggage claim, connections, assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, lounge occupancy, and on-time departures are all affected if a bank of non-Schengen arrivals is delayed for more than an hour. The additional risk is present in connections between non-Schengen and Schengen flights at hubs such as Madrid-Barajas or Barcelona-El Prat, where an excessive border delay can transform a viable layover into a missed connection.
During peak season, the SES introduces a new planning variable for airlines. Companies will be required to evaluate minimum connection times, coordinate check-in closures, anticipate passenger service contingencies, and reinforce pre-trip notifications. The primary objective for airport administrators will be to monitor queues in real time and deploy resources prior to the propagation of delays to the remainder of the terminal.
