time.com
• Miranda Jeyaretnam
The European Union’s new electronic entry system has been fully operational for only a few months, but implementation problems at airports are already prompting airlines and airport operators to seek changes. The disruption highlights the operational and passenger-experience risks of deploying biometric border technology at scale.
Airports
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The European Union’s new electronic entry system has been fully operational for only a few months, but implementation problems at airports are already prompting airlines and airport operators to seek changes. The disruption highlights the operational and passenger-experience risks of deploying biometric border technology at scale.
The rollout of Europe’s new passport-control system is producing frustrating arrival experiences for travelers, even when airport lines initially appear short. Lisbon International Airport illustrates how changes at the border can shift congestion from visible queues to processing delays, complicating passenger flows during the peak summer season.
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Heathrow handled 7.9 million passengers in July, down 1.5% year-on-year, while Istanbul Airport processed 8.15 million and took the month’s European traffic lead. Stansted moved in the opposite direction, setting a monthly record with 3.1 million passengers, up 6.3% from a year earlier.
VietJetAir plans to begin operating at Western Sydney International Airport in the first quarter of 2027, adding the Vietnamese carrier to the airport’s developing international airline lineup. The announcement establishes a future network commitment but does not specify routes, frequencies or aircraft type.
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The FAA is installing new surface-movement radar at Newark Liberty International Airport as part of a $30 million plan to replace air traffic control systems that are roughly 30 years old. The technology is intended to help controllers monitor airport movements and prevent runway incidents, while transportation officials seek as much as $10 billion for broader upgrades.
A U.S. Department of Transportation campaign is directing video-game players toward careers in air traffic control, with more than 2,000 gamers recruited as candidates. The effort highlights gaming skills as a potential pathway into the airport and airspace-management workforce.
Delta Air Lines plans to resume service at Tokyo Narita, returning to the airport after a seven-year absence. The move signals a change in the carrier’s Tokyo airport strategy and adds another development to the competitive Japan-U.S. market.
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Istanbul Airport surpassed London-Heathrow to become Europe’s busiest airport in July 2026, prompting Heathrow to argue that the case for expansion has never been clearer. The shift highlights the competitive pressure on Europe’s major hubs as airports vie for capacity, connectivity and passenger traffic.
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