Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has told passengers it is their responsibility to get to the boarding gate on time, even as new EU travel rules cause chaos at airports. Speaking on The Travel Expert podcast, O'Leary said the airline will not delay flights for those stuck in passport control queues.
EU entry-exit system causing delays
British holidaymakers have faced waits of up to three hours at Schengen Area airports since the EU's entry-exit system (EES) took effect in April. Hundreds of travellers on various airlines, including Ryanair, have missed flights due to extreme delays at passport control.
O'Leary criticised the new rules and called EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen 'stupid' during the podcast, reports the Express. However, he maintained that passengers must allow enough time to reach the boarding gate.
No waiting for late passengers
“We will not wait for anybody,” O'Leary said. “Our priority is to those passengers who are at the boarding gate when boarding starts. If you're not at the boarding gate when we finish boarding, the plane is going without you.”
Stranded travellers have spent hundreds of pounds on replacement flights and hotels, only to find that neither the airline nor travel insurers will cover the cost. O'Leary called the lack of passenger rights “regrettable”.
“We're not delaying our flights for people who are stuck in passport control queues,” he said. “They have to show up at the airport earlier [and] be at the boarding gate, otherwise they're not flying.”
