Why have queues for non-EU travellers doubled at Brussels Airport this summer?
Waiting times for non-EU travellers at Brussels Airport have reportedly doubled this summer as the EU’s Entry/Exit System, holiday traffic and limited border-control capacity converge.
In 30 seconds
- De Morgen reports that summer waiting times for non-EU travellers at Brussels Airport have doubled.
- A staffed-control queue reached two hours and 15 minutes on 22 July, according to Het Nieuwsblad.
- Brussels Airport expected 5.2 million passengers in July and August 2026, 4% more than one year earlier.
- The airport added two border-control positions and installed almost 60 EES pre-registration kiosks for testing.
Brussels Airport Company operates Belgium’s principal airport in Zaventem; the Belgian Federal Police performs passport checks; Interior Minister Bernard Quintin oversees the federal response; and the European Commission, EU member states and eu-LISA share responsibility for the EU Entry/Exit System governing short-stay third-country nationals at Schengen external borders.
Background
EES was designed to replace manual passport stamping with electronic entry and exit records for short-stay third-country nationals. Its launch was repeatedly delayed before a phased introduction began in October 2025; operational difficulties continued into the 2026 peak-travel period.
What to do
Passengers travelling outside the Schengen area should follow Brussels Airport’s advice to arrive three hours before departure, carry the correct passport, check live airport information and allow extra time for onward transport after landing.
Impact
Regional — The disruption is concentrated at Brussels Airport in Zaventem, Flemish Brabant, but affects the wider Brussels economy, international organisations, tourism and families across Belgium.
EvidenceWell established · 1 primary source + 4 official documents + 3 independent reporting sourcesExplore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
- Published:
- 16 Aug 2026, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 16 Aug 2026
- Published:
- 22 Jul 2026, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 16 Aug 2026
- Published:
- 23 Jun 2026, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 16 Aug 2026
- Published:
- 30 Mar 2026, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 16 Aug 2026
- Published:
- 22 Jun 2026, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 16 Aug 2026
- Published:
- 13 Oct 2025, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 16 Aug 2026
- Published:
- 1 Mar 2026, 01:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 16 Aug 2026
- Published:
- 9 Jun 2026, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 16 Aug 2026
Continue reading
This story was assembled from verified evidence, with its sources and reasoning recorded as it was written.