Travel industry piles pressure on EU as ‘shambolic’ EES rollout sparks fresh fears of border chaos

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Financial Intelligence • Markets • World News • Independent Analysis
Published: 2026-09-08 • Permanent link

Rumblings of border chaos are growing louder as major travel companies pile pressure on the EU, warning that the 'shambolic' Entry/Exit System is on the brink of collapse. The system, which was meant to streamline the process of checking in and out of the EU, has been plagued by technical issues and logistical nightmares since its rollout began last year. With the emergency measures designed to prevent border chaos set to expire, companies such as Ryanair and EasyJet are urging the EU to act quickly to address the problems. The result: thousands of passengers are facing lengthy delays and cancellations, with some airlines warning that they may be forced to divert flights to avoid the chaos.

Consequences of the EU's failure to address the Entry/Exit System's shortcomings are already being felt in the travel industry. Airlines are bearing the brunt of the problem, with many reporting a significant increase in customer complaints and cancellations. The impact on investors is also being felt, with shares in travel companies such as TUI and Thomas Cook plummeting in response to the news. The broader economy is also at risk, with the travel industry accounting for a significant proportion of GDP in many countries.

Industry insiders are pointing to the EU's failure to invest in the Entry/Exit System as a classic example of 'technology failure'. "We warned them about the risks of rushing into a new system without proper testing and validation," said one expert. "But they didn't listen, and now we're seeing the consequences." The EU's failure to learn from previous mistakes, such as the rollout of the Euro, is also being cited as a major factor in the system's problems.

As the situation continues to unfold, there are risks that the EU may be forced to impose emergency measures to address the crisis. However, this could have unintended consequences, such as further disrupting the travel industry and causing economic losses. On the other hand, the EU may see this as an opportunity to reform the system and make it more efficient and effective. With the European Parliament set to vote on a new budget in the coming weeks, there will be a lot of attention on how the EU responds to the crisis and whether it will be able to find a solution to the problems plaguing the Entry/Exit System.