Rome Airports Warn of Summer Chaos: EES Border Checks May Be Suspended to Avoid Travel Disaster

Rome airports may suspend EES biometric border checks this summer to avoid travel chaos.

Rome, 26 June 2026 — Rome’s airports could be forced to temporarily suspend the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric border checks this summer to prevent major travel disruptions, according to the CEO of Aeroporti di Roma.

Marco Troncone warned that Fiumicino and Ciampino airports may have no choice but to “open the valve” and allow passengers to bypass full enrolment in the system during peak season, describing the level of concern as “eight or nine” out of ten.

EES Fully Operational Since 10 April 2026

The Entry/Exit System became fully operational across the Schengen Area on 10 April 2026, replacing traditional passport stamping with digital recording of entries, exits, and refusals. The system collects biometric data (facial images and fingerprints) along with personal details from the travel document.

While the system aims to modernise border control and better track overstays, its rollout has been rocky, with long queues reported at many European airports.

Concerns Mount for Summer Travel Season

Troncone told the Financial Times that the biometric enrolment process is “incompatible with the peak volumes” expected this summer. With millions of tourists heading to Italy, the additional time required for fingerprinting and facial scanning could cause significant delays.

Similar concerns have been raised across Europe:

• Portugal is deploying hundreds of extra police officers at airports from early July.

• Greece briefly considered exempting British citizens from full checks (though the plan was later scrapped).

• Airports Council International Europe President Stefan Schulte described the EES as “what keeps me and many other airport CEOs across Europe awake at night.”

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has acknowledged that collecting fingerprints on first entry is the most challenging aspect. Deputy Executive Director Uku Särekanno noted that the situation is expected to stabilise within one to two years as repeat travellers are already registered.

What the EES Means for Travellers

• Non-EU short-stay travellers have their biometric data and travel document information recorded on entry and exit.

• The system automatically calculates the number of days spent in the Schengen Area to detect overstays.

• Initial enrolment takes longer, but subsequent entries should be faster.

Impact on Rome and Italy

Rome’s Fiumicino Airport is one of Europe’s busiest summer hubs. Any significant delays could lead to missed connections, passenger frustration, and reputational damage to Italy as a tourist destination.

The potential suspension of full EES checks would be a temporary measure to maintain smooth operations during the peak July–August period.

Broader European Challenges

The EES rollout has highlighted ongoing issues with biometric data collection, staffing shortages at borders, and the need for better infrastructure. Several countries have called for flexibility during the initial implementation phase.

For the latest EU Entry/Exit System (EES) updates, airport delay news, Schengen border rules, and 2026 travel advisories, visit: visasupdate.com/blog/categories/italy