Travel and Tour World paints a grim picture of the first peak-season test for the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System (EES). Industry bodies ACI Europe and IATA warn that without urgent staffing boosts, waiting times at external Schengen borders could “soar to four hours” by July. The alert singles out Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, Geneva and Madrid as airports already struggling with ‘teething technology’ and understaffing.
Since January, every non-EU entrant—including British and American nationals—has had to submit fingerprints and a facial scan the first time they enter the bloc after 90 days. The system also automatically enforces the 90/180-day stay limit. Airlines serving France say they have already had to board passengers four hours before departure from hotspots such as Tenerife to allow for exit formalities.
For French tourism operators, the prospect of multi-hour arrival queues threatens recovery just as Asia-Pacific demand is rebounding.
![‘Four-hour queues’ feared as EU biometric border system beds in—Paris named hot-spot]()
If navigating these new biometric rules feels daunting, platforms like VisaHQ can help. Their France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) offers real-time entry guidance, Schengen-day calculators and step-by-step support for visa applications, giving travellers and corporate mobility teams a clearer path through the shifting requirements.
Cruise lines that turn round ships in Marseille and Le Havre are pressing the Interior Ministry for dedicated maritime kiosks to avert missed sailings.
Corporate mobility teams should update pre-trip briefings: instruct travellers to leave at least four hours between scheduled landing and onward rail meetings, and to use ‘Schengen Calculator’ apps to avoid automatic overstay flags that could now trigger multi-year bans.
The European Commission insists that additional e-gates and a forthcoming Frontex pre-registration app will ease pressure before the July peak. Until the fixes arrive, French airports must juggle winter works, Olympic-test events and a brand-new biometric regime—raising the likelihood of further operational flashpoints.
Since January, every non-EU entrant—including British and American nationals—has had to submit fingerprints and a facial scan the first time they enter the bloc after 90 days. The system also automatically enforces the 90/180-day stay limit. Airlines serving France say they have already had to board passengers four hours before departure from hotspots such as Tenerife to allow for exit formalities.
For French tourism operators, the prospect of multi-hour arrival queues threatens recovery just as Asia-Pacific demand is rebounding.
If navigating these new biometric rules feels daunting, platforms like VisaHQ can help. Their France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) offers real-time entry guidance, Schengen-day calculators and step-by-step support for visa applications, giving travellers and corporate mobility teams a clearer path through the shifting requirements.
Cruise lines that turn round ships in Marseille and Le Havre are pressing the Interior Ministry for dedicated maritime kiosks to avert missed sailings.
Corporate mobility teams should update pre-trip briefings: instruct travellers to leave at least four hours between scheduled landing and onward rail meetings, and to use ‘Schengen Calculator’ apps to avoid automatic overstay flags that could now trigger multi-year bans.
The European Commission insists that additional e-gates and a forthcoming Frontex pre-registration app will ease pressure before the July peak. Until the fixes arrive, French airports must juggle winter works, Olympic-test events and a brand-new biometric regime—raising the likelihood of further operational flashpoints.
