Three weeks after the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) went live, Italian border posts reported their first stress-test over the long All Saints’ weekend culminating on 2 November 2025. Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino and Genoa’s ferry terminal handled record volumes of non-EU travellers, with around 10 % of passengers channelled through EES kiosks for fingerprint and facial-image capture. Average processing times rose to 18–22 minutes for first-time registrants, compared with the pre-EES average of six minutes.
Border-police unions blamed teething problems with self-service kiosks and travellers unfamiliar with on-screen instructions. The Interior Ministry said the extra time was “within the expected range” for the pilot phase and predicted steady improvements as repeat travellers no longer need to re-enrol biometrics. Business-travel associations urged companies to factor in longer connection times and advise staff to arrive early, carry proof of residency status and ensure passports are machine-readable.
![New EU Entry/Exit System Causes 20-Minute Queues at Italian Airports in First Weeks]()
Italian carriers reported isolated missed connections, especially for short-haul flights via Schengen gateways. No major flight cancellations were recorded, but handling agents at Malpensa set up additional manual counters to prevent backlog. Cruise operators in Genoa said ferry departures were delayed by up to 40 minutes on 1–2 November, prompting timetable adjustments for winter sailings.
The EES roll-out will remain partial until April 2026, after which 100 % of non-EU travellers will use the system. Employers relocating talent to Italy should advise new hires to allow extra time at first entry and to keep EES enrolment receipts, which speed up later crossings. Ground-transport providers are lobbying for a temporary fast-track lane for frequent business travellers; discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority are ongoing.
Border-police unions blamed teething problems with self-service kiosks and travellers unfamiliar with on-screen instructions. The Interior Ministry said the extra time was “within the expected range” for the pilot phase and predicted steady improvements as repeat travellers no longer need to re-enrol biometrics. Business-travel associations urged companies to factor in longer connection times and advise staff to arrive early, carry proof of residency status and ensure passports are machine-readable.
Italian carriers reported isolated missed connections, especially for short-haul flights via Schengen gateways. No major flight cancellations were recorded, but handling agents at Malpensa set up additional manual counters to prevent backlog. Cruise operators in Genoa said ferry departures were delayed by up to 40 minutes on 1–2 November, prompting timetable adjustments for winter sailings.
The EES roll-out will remain partial until April 2026, after which 100 % of non-EU travellers will use the system. Employers relocating talent to Italy should advise new hires to allow extra time at first entry and to keep EES enrolment receipts, which speed up later crossings. Ground-transport providers are lobbying for a temporary fast-track lane for frequent business travellers; discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority are ongoing.
