In a joint statement on 14 April, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and ACI Europe called on the European Commission to allow the full or partial suspension of the Entry/Exit System (EES) at airports where waiting times become “excessive”. The groups say the initial roll-out last weekend proved a “systemic failure”, with one easyJet flight from Milan boarding only 34 of 156 passengers and similar incidents at Vienna, Frankfurt and Barcelona. The industry bodies stress that they support EES’s security goals but argue that border authorities must retain flexibility to revert to manual stamping during peak periods. They warn that, without remedial action, Europe risks damaging its reputation just as corporate travel demand rebounds and Asia-Pacific carriers restore Vienna services for the summer season.
![European airlines demand temporary suspension of EES, citing ‘systemic failure’ at Austrian and other hubs]()
For travellers who need an easy way to track shifting entry rules and documentation requirements, VisaHQ offers a one-stop online service that can relieve much of the administrative burden. Its Austria-focused portal (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) provides up-to-date visa information, guidance on new systems like the EES, and optional concierge assistance—tools that can help both individual passengers and corporate travel managers stay compliant and avoid last-minute surprises.
For Austrian corporates, a suspension could mean a patchwork of procedures across the network, complicating duty-of-care compliance and traveller briefing. Travel-management companies (TMCs) recommend issuing detailed pre-trip communications and monitoring airport-specific alerts via IATA’s Travel Information Manual or the EU’s Passenger Locator Portal. The Commission has yet to respond publicly, but sources in Brussels indicate that a limited derogation, allowing airports to switch off biometric capture if queues exceed 60 minutes, is under discussion. Such a move would mirror the phased introduction of US CBP’s biometric exit programme at major gateways.
For travellers who need an easy way to track shifting entry rules and documentation requirements, VisaHQ offers a one-stop online service that can relieve much of the administrative burden. Its Austria-focused portal (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) provides up-to-date visa information, guidance on new systems like the EES, and optional concierge assistance—tools that can help both individual passengers and corporate travel managers stay compliant and avoid last-minute surprises.
For Austrian corporates, a suspension could mean a patchwork of procedures across the network, complicating duty-of-care compliance and traveller briefing. Travel-management companies (TMCs) recommend issuing detailed pre-trip communications and monitoring airport-specific alerts via IATA’s Travel Information Manual or the EU’s Passenger Locator Portal. The Commission has yet to respond publicly, but sources in Brussels indicate that a limited derogation, allowing airports to switch off biometric capture if queues exceed 60 minutes, is under discussion. Such a move would mirror the phased introduction of US CBP’s biometric exit programme at major gateways.
