Technical Glitch Forces Manual Border Checks, Causes Significant Delays at Brussels Airport

Electronic Gates Fail, Manual Processing Initiated

Brussels Airport is experiencing significant disruptions to its border control operations following a technical glitch that rendered electronic passport gates (e-gates) inoperable for non-Schengen flights. The issue began on Friday evening at approximately 18:30 (6:30 PM) and remained unresolved as of Saturday morning. This malfunction has necessitated a complete switch to 100% manual border processing for all affected passengers.

The electronic gates are typically utilized by holders of biometric passports from the EU, US, Canada, UK, and Singapore, among others, to expedite border crossings. With these automated systems offline, all travelers, regardless of nationality, are now required to present their documents to human officers.

Significant Queues and Travel Advisories

The immediate consequence of the system failure has been the formation of long queues, particularly for those traveling on non-Schengen routes. Reports indicate waiting times of up to 50 minutes during peak early-morning periods.

In response to the ongoing situation, Brussels Airport has issued advisories to passengers. Travelers are urged to proceed swiftly to passport control and to arrive at the airport three hours before departure for non-Schengen flights. Airlines operating out of Brussels have also been requested to

• stagger check-in cut-off times
• warn connecting passengers that minimum connection windows may not be respected

Ongoing Efforts to Resolve the Issue

The cause of the technical glitch has not yet been publicly detailed. Federal police are actively collaborating with the airport's IT supplier in an effort to identify the root cause and restore the electronic systems. However, airport management has not provided a timeline for when normal operations are expected to resume.

Broader Implications for European Border Control

This incident at Belgium's busiest airport underscores the vulnerabilities inherent in increasingly digitalized border control systems. It comes at a pertinent time, as Europe prepares for the full implementation of the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which is slated to be fully operational by April 2026. The EES aims to register biometric data for non-EU nationals crossing Schengen borders, and such technical failures highlight the critical need for robust contingency plans and resilient infrastructure to prevent widespread travel disruptions.