Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has warned passengers that flights will depart without those caught in passport control queues, while delivering a scathing critique of European Union travel rules.
Speaking on The Travel Expert podcast, O'Leary said if travellers are not at the boarding gate when boarding finishes, the plane will leave without them. He called EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen 'stupid' during the interview.
Passengers responsible for arriving on time
O'Leary stressed that it is travellers' responsibility to arrive for flights on time. 'We will not wait for anybody,' he 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.'
British holidaymakers have faced additional stress from the EU's entry-exit system (EES), which took effect in April, leading to waits of up to three hours at Schengen Area airports.
Hundreds miss flights since April
Hundreds of travellers on various airlines have missed planes since April, including Ryanair passengers who watched their flights depart without them due to extreme delays at passport control. 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'. He added: 'We're not delaying our flights for people who are stuck in passport control queues. They have to show up at the airport earlier [and] be at the boarding gate, otherwise they're not flying.'
