Rome Airports May Ease EES in Summer: What Tourists Should Check Before Traveling

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
28.07.2026 00:18

Rome Airports May Ease EES in Summer: What Tourists Should Check Before Traveling

Lead. Rome's Fiumicino and Ciampino airports have become the center of a European discussion regarding the new Entry/Exit System. The management of Aeroporti di Roma warns that full biometric registration of non-European passengers during the peak summer season could create excessive queues, so in certain situations, airports may require flexibility or temporary easing of procedures. For tourists, this does not mean the cancellation of entry rules into the Schengen Area, but it does mean the need to allow more time for passport control, closely monitor flight status, and avoid planning overly tight connections.

What Happened

At the end of June 2026, European media reported warnings from Aeroporti di Roma, the operator of Rome's two main airports: Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino and Ciampino. The main cause for concern is the operation of EES, the new digital registration system for entries and exits for citizens of non-EU countries during short-term stays in 29 European countries using the system.

According to the official explanation from the European Commission, EES records the passenger's name, travel document data, biometric data, date and place of entry or exit, and entry refusals. Since April 10, 2026, the system has completely replaced passport stamping and is intended to help identify those who have exceeded their permitted stay. In practice, the first registration may take more time than a standard passport check, especially when a passenger needs to provide fingerprints and a photograph.

This first biometric registration has become the most sensitive point for airports during the summer load. In Rome, the risk is particularly noticeable due to the scale of the flow: Fiumicino is the capital of Italy's main international hub, and Ciampino serves a significant portion of budget carrier flights. During peak weeks, tourists arrive from the UK, USA, Canada, the Balkans, the Middle East, and other markets for whom EES may be a mandatory procedure.

Why EES Creates a Risk of Queues

The idea of EES itself is not a crisis: digital accounting is intended to make control more transparent, reduce dependence on manual stamps, and provide border services with more accurate information about the stay of foreigners in the Schengen Area. The problem arises not from the system's purpose, but from the operational reality of the airport. If a large portion of passengers undergo their first registration simultaneously, even a few additional minutes per person quickly turn into a long queue.

Airport and aviation associations warned before the summer that EES requires a flexible launch, sufficient staffing, functioning automated kiosks, and clear communication for passengers. ACI EUROPE, Airlines for Europe, and IATA in a joint statement previously indicated that without operational changes, queues in peak months could become a serious risk to the passenger experience. These warnings have now taken a specific Roman dimension: if passenger volume exceeds the practical capacity of control, airports may insist on temporary exceptions or the partial suspension of certain functions.

It is important to understand: final decisions on border control are made not by the airports themselves, but by state authorities and border services. Therefore, tourists should not perceive the messages from Rome as an automatic "cancellation of EES." Currently, it is more accurate to speak of a warning from the infrastructure operator and a possible need for anti-crisis flexibility if queues become unmanageable.

Who This Affects

This topic is most important for passengers with non-European passports entering the Schengen Area for a short term or leaving after such a trip. These may be tourists, business travelers, cruise passengers, passengers on connecting routes, and those flying to Rome as the first point of their European journey. For EU citizens, residents with appropriate documents, and certain categories of travelers, the procedure may differ, so the main rule is to check the requirements specifically for your passport and route.

For Ukrainian travelers, the practical conclusion also depends on the specific status of the trip, document, and route. If a passenger travels as a non-European short-term visitor, they should be prepared for EES procedures at the external border of the Schengen Area. If the route involves a transfer within Schengen, it is important to determine exactly where the first border control will take place: in Rome, in another European hub, or upon exiting the Schengen Area.

A specific risk group consists of passengers with short connections, especially when different carriers are combined in one booking or when a tourist has independently purchased separate tickets. Even if the airline formally sells a connection, summer passport control can make it less comfortable. If tickets are separate, the responsibility for missing the second flight often lies with the passenger themselves.

What to Check Before Flying to Rome

Before the trip, it is worth starting not with a queue forecast, but with basic documents. Check the passport validity period, visa or visa-free conditions, transit rules, airline requirements, and official airport notifications. If you are flying through Rome-Fiumicino Airport (FCO), it is useful to review the terminal layout, arrival area, baggage procedures, and further transport options to the city in advance.

On the day of travel, it is advisable to check the Rome-Fiumicino Airport online board, as queues at passport control can affect not only comfort but also the time it takes to exit the airport, collect baggage, and proceed with the transfer. If the flight is delayed, do not rush to automatically move ground transport to the earliest possible time: it is better to leave a buffer, especially in the evening or on days of mass arrivals.

Those planning to stay overnight near the airport before an early flight should consider hotels near Rome-Fiumicino Airport. This is not a mandatory option for every tourist, but for families with children, passengers after a long-haul flight, or travelers with an early flight, it can reduce the risk of stress. If the main goal is to quickly reach the center of Rome or a cruise route via Civitavecchia, check transfers and taxis from FCO in advance, rather than relying solely on improvisation after arrival.

For routes through the Lazio, Tuscany, or Umbria regions, car rental at Rome Fiumicino Airport may be useful, but a time buffer is also important here. If border control is prolonged, the tourist may be late for the agreed car pickup time or lose part of the first day of the itinerary. Therefore, bookings with flexible conditions are sometimes more valuable than the lowest price without the possibility of change.

How This Affects Summer Tourism in Italy

Rome remains one of the main tourist centers of Europe, and current warnings do not mean that the city has become inaccessible or that trips to Italy should be canceled en masse. On the contrary, the problem arose precisely because of high demand and high seasonal load. For the market, this is an important signal: digital border systems can be useful, but their launch must correspond to the actual capacity of airports, the number of employees, equipment readiness, and passenger behavior.

If Rome experiences excessive delays at control in the summer, the consequences may extend beyond a single capital. Tourists may change arrival times, avoid short connections, and choose other hubs or purchase more expensive but simpler direct routes. Tour operators, cruise companies, and event organizers will also be forced to allow wider buffers between the flight, transfer, and the start of the program.

For hotels and ground services, this means a greater need for flexible check-in conditions, changes in transfer times, and transparent communication. For airlines, it means pressure to inform passengers and to plan connections realistically. For the traveler, a simple rule: a summer trip through a major European airport in 2026 should be planned with a larger buffer than a similar trip a few years ago.

Practical Tips for Passengers

  • Check official requirements for your passport, not just general news about EES.
  • Do not book critically short connections through Rome, especially if you have to go through passport control and collect baggage.
  • Arrive at the departure airport with a buffer that accounts for not only check-in but also possible queues at border control.
  • For the first day in Rome, do not plan strictly timed excursions or trains without a buffer after arrival.
  • Choose tariffs, hotels, transfers, and car rentals with conditions that allow time changes or cancellation.
  • Monitor notifications from the airline, airport, and border services on the day of travel.

Conclusion

The warnings from Rome's airports regarding EES are not a reason to give up on Italy, but they are an important signal for summer planning. In 2026, tourists will have to view passport control as a separate element of the itinerary, rather than a formality of a few minutes. The smartest strategy is to check documents, avoid overly tight connections, and leave a time buffer for arrival and departure, as well as have flexible ground bookings. If Rome receives temporary relaxations or partial easing of procedures, it may reduce pressure on the airports, but it will not eliminate the need for careful planning for every passenger.