France is preparing to invoke a 90-day suspension of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) starting April 10, 2026, to prevent border congestion during the peak summer travel season www.visahq.com. The decision comes as only 35% of third-country travelers are currently registered in the biometric system, significantly lower than the 80% threshold required for efficient operationwww.perplexity.ai. By utilizing a flexibility window allowed by the European Commission, French authorities intend to revert to manual border checks to avoid the risk of extensive wait times at airports.

Industry stakeholders have pressured authorities to delay the mandatory biometric checks, which were originally set to become fully operational in April. While the suspension aims to streamline summer travel, it may introduce uncertainty for airlines and travelers regarding processing times and documentation requirements. Travel logistics companies are encouraged to remain proactive in planning to mitigate potential disruptions caused by the return to manual processing during this 90-day period.