Ryanair has issued a stark warning to families travelling this summer, lashing out at the EU’s passport control Entry/Exit System (EES) and claiming that seven key airports are not prepared for the surge in passenger numbers. The budget airline has called on European governments to suspend the rollout of EES until September, after the busiest travel period, to prevent long and avoidable queues at passport control.
Ryanair Targets Seven Airports as EES Disruption Grows
Ryanair specifically named Tenerife South, Palma, Alicante, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Krakow, and Paris Beauvais as airports experiencing major disruptions due to EES. The airline warned that these hubs lack sufficient staff, kiosks, and system readiness to handle the high passenger volumes expected during peak summer season. Passengers travelling to non-Schengen destinations face additional checks, including passport scanning, fingerprinting, and facial image capture.
Industry Bodies Warn of 'Critical' Delays
Ryanair’s intervention follows an open letter published on Wednesday by top European aviation bodies—ACI Europe (airports), Airlines 4 Europe, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The letter stated that EES-related delays had reached a “critical point.” It described passengers being forced to queue for extended periods outside terminal buildings and on exposed aprons, while airlines faced half-empty planes at gate closing time because passengers were stuck in border control queues. Some planes have had to delay takeoff while waiting for passengers, with queues reaching up to five hours at peak times.
Athens Airport Chaos Ahead of EES
Earlier this month, The Mirror exclusively reported that huge passport and security queues at Athens Airport led to passengers missing their Ryanair flights—even before EES gates were operational. The incident highlighted the broader challenges facing European airports as they prepare for the new system.
Ryanair Calls for EES Suspension Until September
Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer, Neal McMahon, said: “As schools break up and Europe enters the busiest travel period of the year, it is clear that EES is still not ready for peak summer volumes. Passengers and families should not be used as guinea pigs for a half-baked passport control system that risks creating long queues, missed flights and unnecessary stress at airports this summer. It is as simple as postponing EES until September, as other EU countries like Greece have already done. Ryanair calls on European Govts once again to delay the implementation to protect passengers, families and airport operations during the school holiday rush, instead of forcing holidaymakers to endure needless passport control chaos.”
Advice for Passengers
Ryanair has advised passengers to arrive earlier at airports to account for increased passport control queues when travelling to non-Schengen destinations. The airline warned that the current infrastructure is not ready to manage the high passenger volumes expected during peak season, urging travellers to plan accordingly to avoid missing flights.
