Ahead of the 12 October roll out of the progressive start of the European Entry/Exit Scheme (EES), ERA, along with industry partners, has co-signed a letter presenting the air carriers’ proposals to the European Commission and Member States to address the remaining challenges.
Industry letter to European Commission and Member States
Two main issues where highlighted, addressing both the complexities surrounding crew members that do not hold a Crew Member Certificate (CMC) and who would therefore be subject to EES border procedures, and the need for transparent and effective communication from national authorities.
The letter calls for amendments to recognise existing crew documentation, and in the interim, recommending that specific measures to expedite crew treatment at the border should be adopted, along with timely, complete and centralised information where national derogations from visa requirements exist, and where crew ETIAS requirements can be accessed.
Whilst supportive of the progressive start approach, this adds another level of complexity with regards to Member State rollout plans. The letter also urges each Member State to establish regular, centralised communication channels to provide airlines with updates.
Additionally, and as referenced in the press release of 27 July, we reaffirmed our concerns over the proposed increase in the ETIAS registration fee from €7 to €20 which ERA views as disproportionate, calling for a comprehensive assessment to ensure the change is justified and proportionate.
The letter, which is locked for members only, can be downloaded here.
EES website launched
Following the latest EU-LISA Air Carriers Working Group meeting on 28 August, the Commission presented the newly-launched EES website where the public can obtain background information as well as an FAQ section.
Members are also reminded that summaries of EU-LISA carriers’ working group meetings can be found here.
30 July: ERA welcomes the European Commission’s announcement of 12 October 2025 as the launch date for the progressive implementation of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) which marks a significant step forward in modernising border management and enhancing security across the EU.
ERA supports the Commission’s progressive approach, which allows Member States, border authorities, the transport industry and travellers time to adapt to the new procedures and will help alleviate excessive waiting times and bottlenecks at airports during peak periods.
The EES represents a major advancement in the use of technology to manage the movement of non-EU nationals, replacing manual passport stamping with a digital system that captures biometric and travel data thus improving border efficiency and reducing identity fraud.
However, while ERA fully endorses the overall direction and objectives of the EES, we note that further work is needed in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition. This includes communication materials to support both operators and passengers and clarification regarding the treatment of crew member certificates issued by third countries.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETAIS) is now scheduled to start in Autumn 2026.
ERA will continue to work over the summer with the European Commission, eu-LISA, and other stakeholders to address these outstanding issues and support the successful rollout of the EES.
To read the full press release from the Commission, please click here