Brussels Airport plans to add eight manual border control positions by December 2026 and install six additional electronic gates in early 2027, as longer processing times under the European Entry/Exit System (EES) continue to affect border checks.
The EES digitally registers non-European Union nationals entering and leaving the Schengen area, including collecting biometric data such as facial images and fingerprints. Brussels Airport says these additional checks have increased processing times for some passengers, contributing to long queues at arrivals. Similar delays have been reported at other European airports.
According to the airport, processing times during the morning peak for arriving passengers requiring visas are now two to three times longer than before the EES was introduced. It also reports that waiting times increased again in September after improving slightly in August. The airport cites queues of two to four hours at some European airports.
More border control positions and e-gates
Brussels Airport expanded its border control infrastructure in 2025 in preparation for the EES and rising passenger numbers. The airport says manual control capacity increased by 20% at arrivals and 25% at departures. However, it maintains that the longer processing times have limited the impact of this additional capacity on queues.
Eight more manual positions are planned for arrivals in December. According to the airport, these will increase arrival capacity by 66% compared with the current level and double manual border control capacity within 12 months.
Six additional e-gates, ordered from the federal police in May 2026, are expected to be delivered in early 2027. The airport estimates that they will increase e-gate capacity at arrivals by 50%.
The extent to which these additions reduce waiting times will also depend on staffing, passenger eligibility to use the gates and the time needed to complete registration.
Pre-registration kiosks not yet operational
Brussels Airport installed 60 kiosks in 2025 to allow non-EU travellers to pre-register their details for the EES. The system is intended to speed up border checks and enable eligible travellers to use e-gates.
Authorities decided before the summer that travellers from certain non-European countries could use the system. However, the airport says technical problems involving government suppliers have delayed its launch.
Once operational, the pre-registration system is expected to help reduce processing times, particularly for departing passengers. At arrivals, e-gate access remains limited to certain nationalities and passengers already registered in the EES.
Calls for changes at European level
Brussels Airport is also calling for changes to how the EES operates, supporting proposals from airport association ACI Europe and Airlines for Europe. These include streamlining biometric checks and introducing an app that allows travellers to register in advance and is available for use in Belgium. The airport says Sweden and Portugal are currently the only European countries with such apps.
It also supports giving authorities greater flexibility to respond to excessive queues, including the possibility of temporarily suspending biometric registration when waiting times become too long while maintaining essential security checks.
Brussels Airport says it is discussing the implementation of the system with relevant authorities and government departments through a dedicated steering group. The discussions focus on managing border security requirements alongside the operational impact of the new checks on passengers.
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