European airlines and airports have called for flexibility to suspend the EU's digital border system because of travel chaos, according to multiple sources. The EU’s new automated border checks, known as the Entry‑Exit System, came into force on Sunday.

The system requires non‑EU citizens to register at the EU border, with registration valid for a rolling three‑year period or until the passport expires. Travelers who refuse to provide biometric data will be refused entry, and border officials will be able to suspend checks for short periods if processing times become excessively long. Every member state has until mid‑April to use automated checks for all passengers at their borders.

Bluesky reported that the system is causing up to two‑hour queues for non‑EU travellers, while the Guardian said queues of up to five hours have been observed for passengers. The BBC noted that holidaymakers are facing long waits under the new Entry‑Exit System.

Berlin Airport boss said the EU's new digital border system is "not bearable" over the summer, according to Bluesky. Ryanair issued a warning to families travelling this summer about the Entry‑Exit System, stated the system is not ready for the end‑of‑school‑term travel period, and called on European governments to suspend its rollout, as reported by GDELT. Representative bodies for Europe’s airports and airlines said delays caused by the Entry‑Exit System had reached a “critical point”, also reported by GDELT.