UK Passengers Abandoned in Milan as New EU Biometric System Sparks Travel Chaos
British airline passengers have been left stranded in Milan after their flights departed without them, as severe delays caused by the new European Union Entry/Exit System (EES) continue to disrupt travel across the continent. The situation has led to mounting frustration and financial losses for travellers caught in the chaos.
Ryanair Flight Takes Off Without Passengers
A Ryanair flight from Milan Bergamo Airport to Manchester took off on 16 April without a significant number of its scheduled passengers on board. The airline attributed the incident to extensive passport control delays at the airport, which prevented travellers from reaching the boarding gate in time.
Ryanair stated in an official comment: 'Due to passport control delays at Milan Bergamo Airport on 16 April, a number of passengers missed this flight from Milan to Manchester. Should these passengers have presented at the boarding gate desk before it closed, they would have boarded this flight.'
Adam Hassanjee, an 18-year-old from Bolton who was among the stranded passengers, described the ordeal to the BBC. 'We were waiting for an hour and a half and weren't moving,' he said. 'Then we see the plane leave and got told we have to go and book our own flight back.'
EasyJet Passengers Face Similar Ordeal Earlier in April
This incident follows a similar disruption earlier in the month, where around 100 easyJet customers were abandoned at Milan Linate Airport while attempting to board a flight to Manchester on 12 April. Passengers reported queues lasting up to three hours, with some experiencing vomiting and passing out due to the stressful conditions.
EasyJet described the situation as 'outside of our control' and pointed to issues with the EU's new Entry/Exit System as the primary cause of the delays. The airline acknowledged that the hold-ups were 'unacceptable' but noted that they had delayed the flight by 52 minutes to accommodate passengers. Ultimately, with the crew approaching the end of their safety-regulated working hours, the flight was forced to depart half empty.
Kiera, a 17-year-old student travelling with her boyfriend, shared her experience with the BBC. 'We got here at 7.30am for our flight at 11am so were super early,' she explained. 'We got to Border Control and it was a massive queue of people. I wasn't feeling great anyway because I think I'd got food poisoning. At about 10.50am they brought some water over for people, and when we got to the front of the queue someone asked us if we were going to Manchester, and told us our flight had just gone.'
Financial and Logistical Nightmare for Stranded Travellers
The consequences for affected passengers have been severe, both financially and logistically. Reports suggest that approximately 30 people were left stranded by the Ryanair incident, although the airline has not confirmed exact numbers. In the easyJet case, only 30 passengers managed to board the plane, leaving 100 behind.
Kiera and her boyfriend faced a 20-hour wait for an alternative flight, which cost her mother £520 and landed at Gatwick instead of Manchester. To add insult to injury, easyJet offered only £12.25 in compensation, which Kiera noted was roughly the price of a sandwich at the airport.
Understanding the Entry/Exit System (EES)
The Entry/Exit System, which began rolling out on 10 April, represents a significant change in border management for the Schengen Area. This system requires travellers from third-party countries, including the United Kingdom, to register biometric details such as fingerprints and facial recognition images upon entry.
The Schengen Area consists of 29 European countries, primarily within the European Union. While designed to enhance security and streamline border controls, the additional checks have dramatically slowed processing times at some of Europe's busiest airports, particularly as travel demand increases.
Widespread Travel Disruption Across Europe
The problems in Milan are not isolated incidents. Passengers travelling across Europe have reported delays and cancellations over recent weeks, with similar travel chaos affecting those returning to the UK from destinations including Geneva, Lisbon, and Malta.
Airports and airlines are struggling to manage the transition to the new system, leading to unpredictable wait times and missed connections. The Daily Mail has contacted Milan Bergamo Airport for comment on the recent disruptions, but no official response has been provided at this time.
As the peak travel season approaches, concerns are growing about whether border authorities and airlines can implement effective solutions to prevent further incidents of passengers being left behind due to bureaucratic delays.
