Aéroports de Paris (ADP), the operator of Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and Paris-Orly, has asked the European Commission to delay the full roll-out of the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) until after the high-traffic summer period. Under current EU plans, the system is due to become compulsory for all non-EU travellers on 10 April 2026. EES replaces the passport stamp with face- and fingerprint-matching kiosks and is designed to record every entry and exit by third-country nationals in the Schengen area.
During limited trials this winter, ADP recorded border-control processing times up to 70 percent longer than normal, with queues occasionally stretching three hours. Managers fear that volumes in June–August could make wait times “unmanageable,” threatening tight connection windows for business travellers and jeopardising France’s reputation as a gateway for the 2026 peak conference and sporting calendar. Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Lisbon have already suspended or throttled back EES after similar problems, lending weight to ADP’s request.
A temporary postponement would require Commission approval, but industry groups—including ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe and IATA—have thrown their support behind the call, warning of “chronic border-staff shortages” and “unresolved technology issues.” They argue that a summer suspension would give airports time to add staffed booths, upgrade network capacity and complete staff training without the pressure of peak crowds.
![Paris Airports Urge EU to Postpone Biometric Entry/Exit System Until After Summer Peak]()
Meanwhile, travellers and travel managers looking for clarity on the changing Schengen entry rules can turn to VisaHQ’s dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) for real-time visa information, biometric registration guidance and optional concierge processing. The platform consolidates requirements for multiple nationalities, offers reminder alerts as policy dates shift, and helps organisations streamline documentation for employees and guests ahead of the EES switch-on.
For mobility managers the stakes are high. If EES proceeds on 10 April, travel policies will need to build in extra dwell time for all non-EU assignees, clients and visitors. Carriers may be forced to retime early-morning banks to avoid choke-points at immigration, and Schengen-connecting itineraries with short layovers could become risky. A deferral, on the other hand, would give companies an extra three to four months to brief travellers, update travel-booking tools and negotiate service-level guarantees with TMCs.
Regardless of the final EU decision, firms are advised to start issuing pre-trip guidance now: encourage travellers to register biometrics during quieter times of day where kiosks are already active, travel with identical passport data across airline and hotel bookings, and allow at least 90 minutes between Schengen and non-Schengen flights at Paris hubs.
During limited trials this winter, ADP recorded border-control processing times up to 70 percent longer than normal, with queues occasionally stretching three hours. Managers fear that volumes in June–August could make wait times “unmanageable,” threatening tight connection windows for business travellers and jeopardising France’s reputation as a gateway for the 2026 peak conference and sporting calendar. Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Lisbon have already suspended or throttled back EES after similar problems, lending weight to ADP’s request.
A temporary postponement would require Commission approval, but industry groups—including ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe and IATA—have thrown their support behind the call, warning of “chronic border-staff shortages” and “unresolved technology issues.” They argue that a summer suspension would give airports time to add staffed booths, upgrade network capacity and complete staff training without the pressure of peak crowds.
Meanwhile, travellers and travel managers looking for clarity on the changing Schengen entry rules can turn to VisaHQ’s dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) for real-time visa information, biometric registration guidance and optional concierge processing. The platform consolidates requirements for multiple nationalities, offers reminder alerts as policy dates shift, and helps organisations streamline documentation for employees and guests ahead of the EES switch-on.
For mobility managers the stakes are high. If EES proceeds on 10 April, travel policies will need to build in extra dwell time for all non-EU assignees, clients and visitors. Carriers may be forced to retime early-morning banks to avoid choke-points at immigration, and Schengen-connecting itineraries with short layovers could become risky. A deferral, on the other hand, would give companies an extra three to four months to brief travellers, update travel-booking tools and negotiate service-level guarantees with TMCs.
Regardless of the final EU decision, firms are advised to start issuing pre-trip guidance now: encourage travellers to register biometrics during quieter times of day where kiosks are already active, travel with identical passport data across airline and hotel bookings, and allow at least 90 minutes between Schengen and non-Schengen flights at Paris hubs.
