Brussels Airport Company (BAC) on 2 April called on the Belgian Government and the European Commission to introduce “greater flexibility” in the phased deployment of the new Entry/Exit System, warning that the current timetable is already compromising the hub’s role as a gateway for multinational firms headquartered in the capital. In a strongly-worded statement carried by industry outlet Passenger Terminal Today, BAC said that during a four-day pilot period almost 600 passengers—many on tight corporate itineraries—missed their flights because manual border checks could not keep pace with the newly required data entries. Departure queues stretched to two hours; arrival queues exceeded three. The airport recorded 21 hours of cumulative disruption, eroding minimum-connection windows for intercontinental traffic. While Belgium has now paused biometric capture, the airport noted that processing times remain elevated because all third-country nationals must still complete electronic registration. Travellers from the US, UK, Canada and Singapore are temporarily barred from using e-gates, forcing them into police-manned kiosks.
![Brussels Airport urges EU to soften EES rollout as missed-flight tally mounts]()
Travel managers looking for practical help in navigating the new rules may find it useful to consult VisaHQ’s Belgium resource centre, which tracks real-time border-control advisories and offers assistance with pre-registration and other documentation requirements; details are available at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
BAC argues that e-gate access for “trusted” nationalities should be reinstated immediately and that member states should be allowed to suspend parts of the regulation during peak periods. The appeal comes as business-lobby group VBO-FEB warned that repeated congestion could deter investors and cause companies to route executives through Amsterdam or Paris instead. Airlines operating at Zaventem have already added crew hours and are urging customers to arrive three hours before departure—even for short-haul flights. Belgium’s Interior Ministry says it will raise the issue at the next Justice and Home Affairs Council, but EU officials insist the 10 April 2026 deadline remains in force. In the meantime, mobility managers are being advised to brief travellers on potential delays, pre-enrol frequent flyers where possible, and monitor contingency options such as high-speed rail to neighbouring hubs.
Travel managers looking for practical help in navigating the new rules may find it useful to consult VisaHQ’s Belgium resource centre, which tracks real-time border-control advisories and offers assistance with pre-registration and other documentation requirements; details are available at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
BAC argues that e-gate access for “trusted” nationalities should be reinstated immediately and that member states should be allowed to suspend parts of the regulation during peak periods. The appeal comes as business-lobby group VBO-FEB warned that repeated congestion could deter investors and cause companies to route executives through Amsterdam or Paris instead. Airlines operating at Zaventem have already added crew hours and are urging customers to arrive three hours before departure—even for short-haul flights. Belgium’s Interior Ministry says it will raise the issue at the next Justice and Home Affairs Council, but EU officials insist the 10 April 2026 deadline remains in force. In the meantime, mobility managers are being advised to brief travellers on potential delays, pre-enrol frequent flyers where possible, and monitor contingency options such as high-speed rail to neighbouring hubs.
