Brussels Airport to Add 8 Border Control Counters to Reduce EES Delays in 2026
Brussels Airport News
Brussels Airport will add eight new manual border control positions at its arrivals area by December 2026 to reduce long passenger waiting times caused by the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES). The airport will also install six additional automated e-gates in early 2027.
The expansion comes as non-EU travellers face longer immigration checks due to the new system, which requires biometric registration, including facial images and fingerprints.
According to Brussels Airport, processing times for arriving passengers requiring visas during morning peak hours have increased two to three times since the EES introduction. Waiting times at some European airports have reached two to four hours.
The eight new manual positions will increase arrival border control capacity by 66 per cent. The additional e-gates, expected in early 2027, will increase automated processing capacity by 50 per cent.
The airport had previously increased manual border control positions at both arrivals and departures. It also invested in 60 pre-registration kiosks to help passengers complete parts of the EES process before reaching immigration. However, technical problems have delayed their operation.
Brussels Airport is calling for faster biometric checks, a widely available pre-registration application and greater flexibility during periods of severe congestion.
The airport is working with government departments and relevant authorities to improve border processing and reduce waiting times for international passengers.
Ajeet Yadav is an aviation enthusiast covering airline news, airports, aircraft, and industry developments through well-researched and reliable reporting.
