Major airlines including Emirates, Air Arabia, and Lufthansa have issued important travel advisories for passengers heading to Europe, as the Schengen Area begins implementing a new Entry/Exit System (EES) that will significantly alter border control procedures.
The automated biometric system, which came into effect on October 12, replaces traditional passport stamping with digital registration. It records facial recognition and fingerprint data for non-EU travellers entering or exiting Schengen countries, marking a major shift in how passenger movements are monitored across Europe.
According to Emirates, the EES collects personal and biometric data—such as fingerprints and facial images—for short-stay visitors from non-EU or non-Schengen countries, allowing stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. On a traveller’s first entry, border authorities will register this information in the system; subsequent visits will be recorded automatically, streamlining the process.
Lufthansa highlighted on its website that the EES is “a central element in making border controls smarter and more digital,” applying to all third-country nationals visiting the Schengen Area for short stays.
Airlines have advised passengers to arrive early and allow extra time for border procedures, especially during initial trips, as authorities and travellers adapt to the new system. The rollout aims to make travel faster, more secure, and more efficient, ultimately reducing queues and waiting times once fully implemented.
The system, managed by the EU border agency Frontex, securely stores data linked to each traveller’s passport for three years. It helps monitor the duration of stays, prevent overstays, and strengthen identity verification. A companion mobile app is being introduced to allow travellers to check their registered data and remaining authorized stay time.
The EES rollout will be phased across participating European countries until April 2026. During this transition period, manual passport stamping will continue alongside the new digital checks to ensure a smooth adjustment.
Airlines encourage all passengers traveling to the Schengen Area to review the latest official guidelines before departure to ensure a seamless travel experience under the new biometric system.
Major airlines including Emirates, Air Arabia, and Lufthansa have issued important travel advisories for passengers heading to Europe, as the Schengen Area begins implementing a new Entry/Exit System (EES) that will significantly alter border control procedures.
The automated biometric system, which came into effect on October 12, replaces traditional passport stamping with digital registration. It records facial recognition and fingerprint data for non-EU travellers entering or exiting Schengen countries, marking a major shift in how passenger movements are monitored across Europe.
According to Emirates, the EES collects personal and biometric data—such as fingerprints and facial images—for short-stay visitors from non-EU or non-Schengen countries, allowing stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. On a traveller’s first entry, border authorities will register this information in the system; subsequent visits will be recorded automatically, streamlining the process.
Lufthansa highlighted on its website that the EES is “a central element in making border controls smarter and more digital,” applying to all third-country nationals visiting the Schengen Area for short stays.
Airlines have advised passengers to arrive early and allow extra time for border procedures, especially during initial trips, as authorities and travellers adapt to the new system. The rollout aims to make travel faster, more secure, and more efficient, ultimately reducing queues and waiting times once fully implemented.
The system, managed by the EU border agency Frontex, securely stores data linked to each traveller’s passport for three years. It helps monitor the duration of stays, prevent overstays, and strengthen identity verification. A companion mobile app is being introduced to allow travellers to check their registered data and remaining authorized stay time.
The EES rollout will be phased across participating European countries until April 2026. During this transition period, manual passport stamping will continue alongside the new digital checks to ensure a smooth adjustment.
Airlines encourage all passengers traveling to the Schengen Area to review the latest official guidelines before departure to ensure a seamless travel experience under the new biometric system.
.jpg)
 (1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
