European airlines issued a warning on Wednesday regarding the new entry system for travelers into the Schengen open-borders zone. They expressed concerns that the system will lead to "severe disruption" during the peak summer months and called for immediate action to address the "critical issues" causing existing delays.

The new Entry/Exit System (EES), implemented since October, aims to replace passport stamps and enhance information-sharing among the 27 states in the bloc by using automated photographs and fingerprints for non-EU nationals.

In a joint letter by the European arm of the Airports Council International (ACI), Airlines for Europe (A4E), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), it was stated, "Without swift action to provide adequate flexibility, significant disruptions during the peak summer months are highly likely, with queues potentially exceeding four hours."

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The three organizations highlighted in their letter to Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, the "persistently long waiting times of up to two hours at airport border control" despite the phased rollout of the system since October.

The primary objective of the EES is to enhance the detection of individuals overstaying in the Schengen area or those who have been denied entry.

However, the airline groups raised concerns about "continuous border control understaffing" and "unresolved technology issues" related to automation.

The organizations urged the commissioner to confirm whether Schengen members would be allowed to partially or fully suspend the EES until October to provide flexibility during the summer months.

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