ACI Europe Backs EU Sustainable Tourism Plan
The airport group welcomed the European Commission's strategy while pressing for structural fixes to the Schengen Entry/Exit System.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Travel — General
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ACI Europe welcomed the European Commission's Sustainable Tourism Strategy, which recognizes the link between air travel and tourism along with aviation's contribution to EU competitiveness, cohesion, and global positioning. In the same announcement, the group called for urgent structural fixes to the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES), which is causing disruption for travelers.
Why it matters
The EES is causing disruption and hardship for travelers crossing Schengen borders, and the airport group argues that the strategy's support for air travel must be matched by workable border processes. The 6-point plan presented by ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe, and the International Air Transport Association aims to address those structural issues.
The evidence is a joint industry proposal presenting a 6-point plan for an efficient Schengen EES System, with no quantitative comparator in the source. It remains unresolved which specific measures the European Commission will adopt and on what timeline.
The players
ACI Europe
The European regional division of Airports Council International, the trade body representing airport operators across Europe.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas
The European Commissioner advancing the EU tourism agenda, who has overseen transport and tourism policy.
Ursula von der Leyen
The President of the European Commission, the EU's executive body.
Magnus Brunner
The European Commissioner responsible for home affairs, under whose remit border systems such as the EES fall.
The details
ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe, and the International Air Transport Association presented a joint 6-point plan with concrete proposals to address the EES's structural problems. The group also reiterated its call on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner Magnus Brunner to engage on structural solutions.
Timeline
November 8, 2026: ACI Europe welcomed the Sustainable Tourism Strategy and renewed its call for EES action.
Big Picture
The dispute extends the rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System under the Schengen Borders Code, as airports and airlines now push for structural changes after early disruption to travelers. It also sits alongside the Commission's new Sustainable Tourism Strategy, which treats air connectivity as central to the bloc's tourism and competitiveness goals.
Travelers crossing Schengen borders should expect continued EES-related processing delays until structural fixes are adopted. Planning extra time at border checkpoints remains advisable while the industry's 6-point plan is under consideration.
The takeaway
The industry is pressing for structural reform rather than piecemeal adjustments to the Schengen Entry/Exit System. Travelers should watch for Commission decisions on the 6-point plan that could shorten border queues.
Further reading
For broader background on border travel and tourism policy, see Travel — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Eoghan Corry's TRAVEL Extra.
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