Brussels Airport will install eight additional border control positions at arrivals before the end of this year to address long waiting times. Six additional e-gates will follow in early 2027.
The airport aims to address issues caused by the European Entry/Exit System (EES), which has seen processing times increase, with border checks for non-Schengen passengers taking longer. “The average processing time during the morning peak for each arriving visa passenger is two to three times longer due to the EES,” the airport said. “Due to the increasing biometric data registration, waiting times rose again in September, following a slight improvement in August.”
Brussels Airport invested in new infrastructure in 2025 ahead of EES implementation. This included the addition of 60 pre-registration kiosks, although due to technical problems this capability is not yet fully used.
In December 2026, capacity at border control on arrival will increase by 66%, thanks to the eight additional positions. Manual capacity at arrivals will have doubled within 12 months. Brussels Airport ordered six e-gates from the federal police in May, which will be delivered in early 2027. This will increase e-gate capacity at arrivals by 50%.
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