The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) have cautioned against applying for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). At the same time, airports and airlines in Europe experience up to five-hour long queues under the Entry/Exit System (EES).
As such, industry organizations call for change within 2026 to prevent additional and long-term disruption in European airports.
Multiple reports have confirmed that the EU has delayed the ETIAS launch to 2027, but without an official kickoff date.
ABTA Confirms ETIAS Application Still Unavailable
Speaking at the ABTA Convention in Madeira, ABTA public affairs director Luke Petherbridge confirmed that travelers cannot currently obtain ETIAS approval.
“There is now no official launch date for the Etias system,” Petherbridge said, according to Travel Weekly.
Previously, the European Commission expected ETIAS to launch during the final quarter of 2026.
However, officials removed that timetable, leaving travelers without a confirmed application opening date.
Once operational, ETIAS will cover eligible visa-exempt visitors traveling to 30 European countries.
Furthermore, approved authorizations will generally remain valid for three years or until the traveler’s passport expires.
EES Causes Five-Hour Border Delays
While ETIAS remains unavailable, the EU’s separate EES has already introduced biometric checks at Schengen borders.
The system became fully operational on April 10, 2026, replacing traditional passport stamping for covered travelers.
It records passport information, facial images, fingerprints, and entry and exit details.
However, implementation has caused significant operational problems at several European airports.
According to Airports Council International Europe (ACI EUROPE), peak waiting times have reached five hours in extreme cases.
Moreover, queues routinely exceed two hours at affected locations, disrupting flights and connections.
Industry representatives blame insufficient border staffing, unstable technology, and limited automated processing facilities.
The problems also affect self-service kiosks and the EU’s Travel to Europe preregistration application.
Consequently, airlines warn that persistent bottlenecks could undermine passenger confidence and airport operations.
Airlines Demand Six Reforms to Reduce EES Bottlenecks
On October 12, ACI EUROPE and Airlines for Europe (A4E) presented six proposals to improve border processing.
Their recommendations include eliminating duplicate verification procedures and improving biometric identity checks.
Additionally, they want authorities to prevent duplicate EES profiles and upgrade digital preregistration tools.
The organizations also recommend expanding automated border gates for eligible non-EU travelers.
Finally, they want authorities to retain the ability to suspend biometric registration partially during severe congestion.
Both organizations argue that technical improvements must accompany operational flexibility.
They also urge the European Commission and member states to implement changes promptly.
Meanwhile, ABTA wants existing EES contingency arrangements extended into 2027.
Such measures could help authorities manage excessive queues while addressing underlying technical problems.
However, industry representatives emphasize that temporary solutions cannot replace lasting improvements to border infrastructure.
Gibraltar Residents Face Incorrect EES Registrations
Separate concerns have emerged in Gibraltar, where authorities identified incorrect EES registrations involving exempt residents.
On October 13, the European Commission reinforced guidance confirming exemptions under Gibraltar’s treaty arrangements.
Nevertheless, some residents had already entered the biometric database despite qualifying for exemptions.
These records created potential problems when calculating permitted stays within the Schengen Area.
For example, some travelers appeared to remain inside Schengen territory after returning to Gibraltar.
As a result, their remaining permitted stay could appear incorrectly reduced.
Gibraltar authorities now encourage affected residents to request record deletion from the relevant Schengen authorities.
Furthermore, residents should carry their passports and Gibraltar identity documents to demonstrate their exemption.
British Travel Demand Remains Resilient Despite EES Concerns
Despite reported border disruption, ABTA’s latest Holiday Habits survey suggests limited effects on British travel intentions.
The survey questioned more than 2,000 respondents about travel experiences and future plans.
Among European travelers surveyed, 46% had experienced EES checks since implementation began.
Of those travelers, 50% reported queues lasting less than 30 minutes.
Moreover, 87% waited less than one hour, suggesting that lengthy delays remain concentrated at certain locations.
Only 6% of respondents said EES made them much less likely to visit the EU.
Additionally, eight in ten reported no knock-on effects on their travel arrangements.
These findings suggest that border disruption has not substantially discouraged most surveyed travelers.
Nevertheless, industry organizations remain concerned about severe delays at particularly busy airports.
What British Travelers Should Know Before Visiting Europe
British passport holders should distinguish between EES registration and future ETIAS authorization requirements.
EES operates at participating Schengen borders and generally requires biometric registration during entry and exit procedures.
By contrast, ETIAS will require eligible travelers to obtain authorization before departure once the system launches.
Additionally, passengers should monitor airline guidance and allow extra time where border congestion remains possible.
Ultimately, the EU must resolve existing EES problems while preparing travelers for the separate ETIAS rollout.
Photo by Marco López on Unsplash
