A family missed their flight after being stuck for more than five hours in queues for new EU border biometric checks at Charles de Gaulle airport on April 29, 2026. David Newton and his family arrived three hours before their flight but ended up stranded for a total of 11 hours in departures.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) checks launched fully on April 10, 2026. Passengers must provide fingerprints and a facial photo as part of EU regulations for non-EU nationals.
Newton described the situation as ‘mayhem’ with thousands of passengers queuing at border control. Only around a third of the 15 booths were manned, leading to significant delays.
As of midday, EES kiosks at main hubs in France are not operational due to technical issues. Greece has suspended biometric checks for British nationals amid growing queues.
The European Commission stated that the EES system has been functioning well in most member states since its launch. However, ACI Europe warned of potential delays of up to three hours during peak travel periods.
Passengers faced manual processing, taking about five minutes per person. Several European countries have temporarily halted EES checks at airports due to long lines.
David Newton expressed frustration, saying, “It was shocking. I’ve never missed a flight in my life.” He noted that many passengers were distressed, with some crying and pleading not to miss their flights.
Officials have not confirmed how long the technical issues affecting EES kiosks will last. Additionally, it remains uncertain how long the suspension of EES checks in various countries will continue.
