European EES in Estonia

Pikk 61 / 15065 Tallinn / Estonia / [email protected] / www.siseministeerium.ee

Registry code 70000562

Airlines for America

Your: 17.04.2026

Our: 11.06.2026 No 5-4/74-3

European EES in Estonia

Dear Mr. Glatz, Mr. Alderslade, Mr. Tanzer and Mr. Morrison,

Thank you for your letter of 17 April 2026 regarding the implementation of the European

Entry/Exit System (EES) and its impact on passenger processing at airports in Estonia. We

appreciate the constructive feedback and proposals provided by your organizations and the

continued engagement of the aviation sector on this important matter.

The responsible authorities in Estonia continuously monitor operational performance and make

every effort to deploy available resources and operational measures in a manner that minimizes

waiting times at border crossing points. We had problems at the beginning of the

implementation of EES, especially with capturing biometrics, but thanks to system updates,

border checks has become smoother.

However, it should also be acknowledged that border authorities have limited ability to

influence flight schedules, traffic volumes, or operational disruptions affecting airlines and

airports. Consequently, situations may arise where several flights arrive simultaneously,

whether as part of planned schedules or due to unforeseen circumstances. In such cases,

temporary queues and extended waiting times may be difficult to avoid despite the best efforts

of all parties involved.

We appreciate the concerns and recommendations outlined in your letter and will continue to

take them into consideration as EES implementation progresses. Thank you once again for your

engagement and for sharing your concerns on this important issue.

Yours Sincerely,

Joosep Kaasik

Undersecretary