France Faces Airport Delays Following EU Entry/Exit System Activation

Paris, April 13, 2026—France's major airports grappled with significant delays on the first full day of the EU's mandatory Entry/Exit System (EES), as non-EU travelers encountered queues stretching up to three hours at border controls. The biometric system, now replacing traditional passport stamps, tracks stays to enforce the 90 in 180 day Schengen limit, but its rollout has led to bottlenecks at hubs like Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly, mirroring chaos reported in Vienna and Milan.www.thetraveler.orgwww.visahq.comwww.itv.com

Authorities and airlines urged non-EU passengers to arrive at least three hours early, with French border police deploying extra staff to guide travelers through e-gates and initial biometric scans of fingerprints and facial images. Similar to incidents where over 100 passengers missed an EasyJet flight from Milan due to EES processing delays, several Paris departures pushed back with empty seats as non-EU nationals remained stuck in lines. Travel experts warn that high volumes and staff shortages could worsen during peak seasons, despite phased implementation efforts across Schengen states.www.gulf-times.comwww.visahq.com

The EES aims to curb overstays by logging entries and exits centrally, automatically flagging those nearing the 90 in 180 day threshold—a critical concern for business travelers facing unscheduled overnights from missed connections. While the European Commission rejected postponement calls, operators like Air France are issuing pre-flight reminders and maintaining no-show policies. French tourism boards advise monitoring updates as the system stabilizes ahead of ETIAS in late 2026.