Transportation

Kiosk issues blamed for EU travel backups

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April 29, 2026

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Holidaymakers traveling through Europe are facing mounting disruptions as new biometric border controls under the Entry/Exit System lead to delays, missed flights and operational strain at major airports, according to an MSN report.

At Marseille-Provence Airport, in France, dozens of passengers attempted to block a departing flight after being unable to clear passport control in time. Travelers cited malfunctioning biometric kiosks and insufficient staffing as key causes of the delays, which left 83 passengers unable to board.

The issues come just weeks after EES was fully implemented for non-EU nationals, requiring fingerprint and facial scans in place of manual passport stamping. Airport officials in France said pre-registration kiosks are not functioning properly, forcing border police to process passengers manually at booths. This has significantly increased wait times, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend biometric checks at times to prevent severe congestion.

Similar problems are emerging across Europe. In Italy, long queues have been reported at multiple airports, with officials warning of a potential "system collapse" without additional resources. Greece has already paused biometric checks for some travelers, while industry groups report flights departing with large numbers of passengers missing due to processing delays. Airport operators warn that technical issues may persist into peak summer travel season, raising concerns about broader disruption.

Officials said the situation is particularly concerning given that flexibility in enforcing EES rules is expected to end in September, with no alternative plan in place. Authorities and industry groups are calling for more staffing, improved technology and additional time to stabilize the system.